Physics 5201: Classical Mechanics
Room 127
TuTh 12:30-1:45
Fall ‘15
Instructor: G. Wilemski, 209 Physics, tel: 341-4409
wilemski@mst.edu
Office Hours: M 3:30-6, F 3:30-6:00 or by appointment.
Text: Goldstein, Classical Mechanics,3rd edition (2nd edition will work too)
Material: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, (5), (8), (9), (10). ( ) = partial coverage
Additional references that may be helpful:
Lagrangian Dynamics, Wells (Schaum’s Outline Series): many worked problems
Mechanics, Landau and Lifshitz: excellent, but brief; full of insights
Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, Marion and Thornton: a detailed Goldstein
Classical Mechanics, Corben and Stehle: an inexpensive Dover paperback is available
Tests: There will be 6 chapter tests given during class and a final exam. Each test will follow the
completion of a chapter and consist of 2 problems on that chapter’s material. See the schedule on the
reverse side of this sheet for exam dates. The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday 16 December, 7:30
AM. It will be comprehensive but will emphasize material from the last 1/3 of the course. A short
reading quiz based on class notes will be given each lecture. You will need a signed medical or legal excuse
to makeup a missed test or exam.
Grading: A 90% > B 80% > C 70% -------- 500 total points broken down as follows:
Homework will count 75 pts of the final grade. (Your 10 highest problem sets will be counted.). Reading
quizzes are worth 5 pts. each (75 pts). (Highest 15 scores will be counted.) Each chapter exam is worth (50
pts). Your 5 highest scores will count toward a maximum of 250 pts. The final exam is worth (100 pts).
Homework: Problem sets will be due every week, generally in class on Tuesday. See the schedule on the
reverse side of this sheet. Homework turned in late will not receive any credit. Generally, homework will
be graded and returned by the next class. Solutions will be posted on the course web site. You may discuss
problems with other students, but do not copy another person’s solution. Individuals turning in the same
solution will receive split credit. You may copy solutions or math from other sources; please provide
proper references if you do. Weekly Learning Center (Help Session): On most Mondays, 3:30pm 6:00pm. (Time is subject to change.)
Web Site: The syllabus, all problem assignments, and all problem solutions will be posted on the course
web site: http://physics.mst.edu/classes/class409
Students with disabilities: If you have a documented disability and will need accommodations in this
course, I strongly encourage you to meet with me early in the semester. You will need to request that the
Disability Services staff (dss@mst.edu) send me a letter verifying your disability and specifying the
accommodation you will need before I can arrange it.
Academic Conduct: You should behave as responsible scholars and scientists. Academic dishonesty such
as plagiarism, cheating, or sabotage is unethical and unacceptable and will be dealt with accordingly. For
more detail see p. 30 of Student Academic Regulations 2010-2012 available at
http://registrar.mst.edu/academicregs/index.html
Classroom Egress Maps: Please familiarize yourself with the classroom egress maps posted on-line at
http://registrar.mst.edu/media/administrative/registrar/documents/egress/egress_phys_127.pdf .
Complaints may be directed to Dr. Waddill (103 Physics, waddill@mst.edu)
Test, Lecture & HW schedule for Physics 5201: Classical Mechanics
24 August 2015
Fall ‘15
#1 - 25 August: Ch. 1: Sec. 1.1
#2 - 27 August: Ch. 1: Sec. 1.2, 1.3
#3 - 1 September: Ch. 1: Sec. 1.6, Example problems, HW#1-Ch.1
#4 - 3 September: Ch. 1: Sec. 1.4, 1.5
#5 - 8 September: Ch. 1: examples; Start Ch. 2: Sec. 2.2; HW#2-Ch.1
#6 - 10 September: Ch.2, Sec. 2.2, 2.1, 2.3
#7 - 15 September: Ch. 2: Sec. 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7(3rd ed.) HW#3-Ch.1
#T1 – 17 September: Test #1 Ch.1
#8 - 22 September: Ch. 3: Sec. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3; HW#4-Ch.2
#9 - 24 September: Ch. 3: Sec. 3.3
#10 - 29 September: Ch. 3: Sec. 3.5, 3.6, 3.7; HW#5-Ch.2
#T2 – 1 October: Test #2 Ch. 2
#11 - 6 October: Ch. 3: Sec. 3.8, 3.9, Sec. 3.10, 3.11; HW#6-Ch.3
#12 - 8 October: Ch. 4: Sec. 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4
#13 - 13 October: Ch. 4: 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9; HW#7-Ch.3
#T3 - 15 October: Test #3 Ch. 3
#14 - 20 October: Ch. 4: Sec. 4.10; HW#8-Ch.4, Mid-term grades due
#15 - 22 October: Ch. 5: Sec. 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
#16 - 27 October: Ch. 5: Sec. 5.4; HW#9-Ch.4
#T4 - 29 October: Test #4 Ch. 4
#17 - 3 November: Ch. 5: Sec. 5.5, 5.6; HW#10-Ch.5
#18 - 5 November: Ch. 5:Sec. 5.7
#19 - 10 November: Ch. 8: Sec. 8.1; HW#11-Ch.5
#20 - 12 November: Ch. 8: Sec. 8.2
#21 - 17 November: Ch.9: 2nd ed. Sec. 9.4 (pp. 397 – 399), Sec. 9.5;
3rd ed. Sec. 9.5 (pp. 388 – 390), Sec. 9.6; HW#12-Ch.5
#T5 - 19 November: Test #5 Ch. 5
- 24 November: No class, Thanksgiving Holiday
- 26 November: No class, Thanksgiving Holiday
#22 - 1 December: Ch.9: 2nd ed. Sec. 9.6; 3rd ed. Sec. 9.7; HW#13-Ch.8
#23 - 3 December: Ch.8, Sec. 5; 2nd ed. Ch. 9, Sec.1, 2, Sec. 3 (p. 391)
3rd ed. Ch. 9, Sec.1,2, 3 Sec. 4 (p. 381)
#T6 - 8 December: Test #6 Ch. 8
#24 - 10 December: Ch. 10: Sec. 10.1 – 4, Ch. 10: 2nd ed. Sec. 10.8 (time permitting);
3rd ed. - handout material; HW#14-Ch.9
- 16 December: Final Exam 7:30 am, Wednesday
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