Advanced Classical Mechanics I

Course #PH4153

Starts: not available

Est. completion in 3 months

Offered through Distance Learning

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Overview

The first course in a two-course sequence covering classical mechanics at the advanced graduate level. Newtonian mechanics of single-particle and two-body central force systems, including orbital motion and scattering . Constraints, Lagrangian dynamics and generalized coordinates. Euler's formulation of rigid body mechanics. Small oscillations and systems of coupled oscillators.

Included in Degrees & Certificates

  • 299

Prerequisites

  • PH3152
  • PH3991

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to solve quantitative problems at the graduate level for the following list of topics:

  • Hamilton’s principle and the calculus of variations;
  • Lagrangian mechanics of single-particle and two-body central force systems, including orbital mechanics and scattering;
  • Eigenvalue problems of normal frequencies, with application to molecular vibration;
  • Legendre transforms and the principle of least action;
  • Canonical transforms and Poisson brackets, with application to the harmonic oscillator and angular momentum;
  • Hamilton-Jacobi equation and action-angle variables for one degree of freedom.