Syllabus
Physics 460: Mechanics I (Term: Fall 2010)
Class number: 1970 (Credit units: 3)
Lecture Room: 312 Natural Sciences BLDG
Lecture Time: 4:00 pm-5:15 pm (Tuesday and Thursday)
Textbook: Intermediate Dynamics, Patrick Hamill, Published by Jones and Bartlett
Publishers
Reference: Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, fifth edition, by Stephen T.
Thornton and Jerry B. Marion, Published by Thomson.
Instructor: Dr. Ming Yu
Office:
Room 242, John W. Shumaker Research Building
Office Hour: 9:30 am –11:00 am (TTh)
Phone Number: 502-852-0931
E-mail: m0yu0001@gwise.louisville.edu
Web site: http://www.physics.louisville.edu/yu/
Description
Mechanics is one of the most fundamental fields in physics. It seeks to provide a precise
and consistent description of the dynamics of particles and systems of particles.
The aim of this course is to help students to deepen their conceptual understanding of
classical mechanics, to identify common misconceptions about the natural world and to
help clear up those misconceptions, and to develop their problem-solving skills.
The course will be carried out by deeply discussing principles of mechanics and dealing
with the exact solutions of the mechanics of particles in various kinds of motions such as
the central force motion, the harmonic motion, and the physical pendulums. An
introduction of the Lagrangian method will provide students a highly mathematical form
of classical mechanics, called analytical mechanics, which is equivalent with the Newton
mechanics, also called vectorial mechanics, but is more effectively used in advanced
physics. An introduction of the fictitious force will provide students how to express the
Newton’s second law in non-inertial reference frames. Many of the mathematical and
physical techniques we develop in this course will help students to study more advanced
fields such as quantum mechanics.
You are encouraged to read the chapters and sections related to the topics from the
textbook and reference books and to discuss with your fellow students or the instructor to
make clear in concepts and in solving assigned problems. Your progress in this area will be
assessed with a graded assignment (homework assignment, quiz set, and embedded in exam
questions, etc.).
The students are assumed to have completed Physics 298 or an equivalent course. The
students are also assumed to be familiar with basic algebra and calculus.
Topics covered
I. Principles of Mechanics:
1. Kinematics (Chapter 2 & Section 1.1)
2. Newton’s Laws: Determining the Motion (Chapter 3 & Section 1.2)
3. Analytical Mechanics-The Lagrangian Method (Chapter 4)
4. The Conservation of Energy (Chapter 5 & Section 1.3.3)
5. The Conservation of Liner Momentum (Chapter 6 & Section 1.3.1)
6. The Conservation of Angular Momentum (Chapter 7 & Section 1.3.2)
II. The Mechanics of Particles
1. Central Force Motion (Chapter 10)
2. Harmonic Motion (Chapter 11)
3. The Physical Pendulum (Sections 12.1-12.2)
4. Accelerated Reference Frames (Chapter 13)
We may discuss some additional topics in mechanics such as “Special Theory of Relativity” as time
allows.
Homework
Homework assignments will be distributed at beginning of each week. The Homework
includes both general problems and challenge problems. You are asked to accomplish the
general problems and encouraged to take the challenge problems. Your solutions for each
problem must include not only the final answers but intermediate steps. The
corresponding due dates for Homework will be written on the Homework assignments.
Homework assignments will be collected and graded, and form part of your final score.
You may discuss homework problems with your fellow students. In fact, you are
encouraged to work as a group. However, the final write-up must be your own.
Quiz
There may be two conceptual quizzes. Some extra points will be given.
Exams
There will be two in-class exams: one is the midterm exam and the other is the final exam.
The midterm exam is scheduled on October 14, and the final exam is scheduled on Dec.
9.
Class Participation
Class participation will be monitored throughout the semester. You are basically required
to attend the class otherwise, with an excuse. Each absence without an excuse will cost
0.5 point. It is true that certain individuals are able to learn physics solely from a textbook
and may think that lectures are unnecessary. It is also true that most part of the course
follows the text book basically, but (1) more explanations which do not appear in a
typical textbook will be given in class (2) some of the topics of the course are even not
covered by the textbook. Participation will provide you the opportunity to gain more, to
ask questions as well as clarifying explanations.
Grading Policy
The final scores will be based on the two exams and the homework with breakdown as follows:
Homework 30%
Midterm Exam 35%
Final Exam
35%
The letter grades will be assigned based on the final scores. The approximate cutoffs are:
Grade A+
A
A_
B+
B
B_
C+
C
C_
D+
D
D-
Cutoff 95
90
80
70
65
60
50
45
41
38
35
32
* Please note that the scheduled exam date and above cutoffs are tentative. The instructor reserves the
right to lower the cutoffs if deemed necessary. The cutoffs, however, will not be raised in any cases.