COURSE SYLLABUS FORM
American University of Beirut
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Department: Physics
Course Number and Title: Phys 217, Classical Mechanics
1. Course Learning Outcomes
This course is the first course in theoretical physics for physics major and has
consequently a fundamental importance for the following physics courses such as
Quantum Mechanics. The main learning outcomes from this course are as follows:
• The student should experience advanced physics and some degree of sophistication in
handling both the formalism and the theory.
• The student should gain sufficient practice in solving problem in different areas of
classical mechanics.
• In the first part of the course, the student should learn how to solve the equation of
motion for a single particle under the influence of a variable force being a function of
position, velocity or time.
• In a second part of the course, the student will deal with an alternate method to solve
complicated mechanical problems, namely the Lagrange’s equation derived from the
Hamilton’s principle of mechanics
• After becoming familiar with the Lagrangian mechanics, the student should apply this
formalism to a variety of problems such as: Central-Force Problem and Planetary Motion,
Dynamics of a system of Particles, Motion in Non-inertial Reference Frames, Dynamics
of Rigid Bodies and Coupled Oscillations.
2. Resources available to the students
Main text book: Classical Mechanics
By Marion and Thornton
Harcourt, 1995 4th edition
Other text books:
Classical Mechanics
By T. Chow
Wiley & Sons 1995
Analytical Mechanics
By G.R. Fowles and G.L. Cassideay
Sounders College Publishing, 1986 5th edition
3. Grading Criteria
The final grade is based on the performance in 2 exams during the semester, each of a
weight of 25%, and a comprehensive final exam of a weight of 40%, and 105 are given
for homework.
4. Schedule
Week
Topic
Assignments
1
Vectors, Matrices & Coordinate
Transformations:
Vector Calculus with application to
kinematics.
Orthogonal Transformations
Homework problems
2 -3
Newtonian Mechanics of Single
Particle:
Newton’s Laws of Motion and Frame
of References.
Equation of Motion for a particle
subject to a variable force, being a
function of position, or of velocity.
Homework problems.
Presentation of selected examples by
the students
4
Oscillations
Particle subject to a force as a function Homework problems.
Presentation of selected examples by
of time:
the students
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM),
Damped Harmonic motion,
Harmonic Motion in two dimensions,
Forced Oscillation
5
Nonlinear Oscillations
Phase Diagram,
Method of Perturbation for solving
non-linear oscillations,
Method of successive approximation,
Chaotic oscillations
6
7
Homework problems.
Presentation of selected examples by
the students
Elements of Calculus of Variation
Derivation of the Euler’s equation
Homework problems
Hamilton’s Principle, Lagrangian and
Hamiltonian Mechanics:
Generalized coordinates, Hamilton’s
principle, Lagrange’s equation of
Homework problems
Presentation of selected examples by
the students
motion, Hamilton’s equations of
motion, Examples
8
9
10
11
13
14
Central Forces:
General solution of the central force
problem, differential equation of the
orbit.
Inverse – square law ( Kepler’s
problem).
Kepler’s laws of planetary motion.
Stability of circular orbits
.
Homework problems
Presentation of selected examples by
the students
Non-inertial Systems:
Dynamics of a particle in a rotating
coordinate system.
Coriolis force . Centrifugal force.
Projectile motion with rotation.
Foucault pendulum
Homework problems
Dynamics of a system of particles:
Linear and Angular momentum.
Energy of a system of Particles.
Elastic and inelastic collisions
Introduction to scattering
Homework problems
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies:
Rotation of a rigid body.
Moment of inertia.
Physical pendulum
Laminar motion of rigid bodies.
Homework problems
Introduction to Coupled Oscillations:
Coupled Pendulum.
Coupled oscillators and normal modes
Homework problems
Presentation of selected examples by
the students
Presentation of selected examples by
the students
5. Course Policy
Regular attendance. No make up of the quizzes. Make up of the final exam only with
legal justified reasons. Cheating in the exams is prohibited and can lead to expelling the
student from the course.