Physics 105B Classical Mechanics

UC Santa Barbara Department of Physics
Spring 2010

PHYSICS 105B: Classical Mechanics

Lectures: MWF 10-10:50 in 1260 Phelps

Discussion: W 6-6:50 in 1160 Phelps

Instructor: Andrew Cleland

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

HW4 and all later HW due dates delayed by 1 week; HW9 deleted.

This syllabus may be found at http://www.physics.ucsb.edu/~phys105B/spring2010/

HW solutions are available through a password-protected website at

http://www.physics.ucsb.edu/~phys105B/spring2010/closed

To obtain the login information, please contact Prof. Cleland.

COURSE INFORMATION

Prof. Andrew N. Cleland
e-mail:
Office: 4113 Broida Hall Phone: 805/893-5401
Office Hours: MW 11-noon

TA: Karina Roitman e-mail: yaelcita@physics.ucsb.edu

Office hours: Tu 11:30-12:30 and Th 2-4 in the Physics Study Center

Secretary: Barbara Merlo, 4118 Broida Hall, (805) 893-2627

Required Texts:

Fowles & Cassiday, Analytical Mechanics, 7th edition (Brooks-Cole, 2005)

Taylor, Classical Mechanics (Brooks-Cole, 2005)

Other good books, on reserve at Davidson Library:

Marion & Thornton, Classical Dynamics (4^th ed., Brooks-Cole, 1995; QA845.M38 1995)

Goldstein, Poole & Safko, Classical Mechanics (Addison-Wesley, 2002; QA805.G6 2002)

Symon, Mechanics, (3^rd ed., Addison-Wesley, 1971)

Course Outline:

Physics 105B is the second quarter of advanced undergraduate classical mechanics. You should have received a minimum of a C- in Physics 105A to enroll in this class. We will cover the topics of Lagrange mechanics; rigid body motion; coupled systems; Hamiltonian mechanics; special relativity; and, if time permits, a little continuum mechanics.

Grading:

Grades are based on homework, the midterm and the final exam:

Homework: 40%

Midterm: 25%

Final exam: 35%

Homework is due once a week, starting week 2. Assignments appear at the end of this syllabus. Homework must be turned into the HW box on the first floor of Broida next to PSC (1301 Broida), marked for Physics 105B, by 5 pm each Thursday. Homework counts for 40% of your grade. No group effort allowed!

Midterm will be on Monday April 26, in class. It will be closed book, closed notes (one formula sheet allowed), and counts for 25% of your grade. No excuses other than medical ones will be accepted.

Final exam is scheduled for Monday June 7, 8 am - noon. It counts for 35% of your grade. No excuses other than medical ones will be accepted.

Reading:

You are expected to prepare for lecture. This involves reading the textbook and the lecture notes that are distributed through the class website. Reading is assigned for each week; do it before class!

Approximate Schedule for Reading and Homework

Chapters are in Fowles (F) or Taylor (T).

Homework sets are due each Thursday at 5 pm, box outside PSC (1301 Broida).

Homework should be worked on individually, not as a group

Week	Reading	HW
3/29	Lagrangian mechanics (F: Ch 10, T: Ch. 6 & 7)
4/5	Lagrangian mechanics (F: Ch 10, T: Ch. 7)	HW1 due 4/8
4/12	Rigid body mechanics (F: Ch 9, T: Ch. 10)	HW2 due 4/15
4/19	Rigid body mechanics (F: Ch 9, T: Ch. 10)	HW3 due 4/22
4/26 midterm on Monday	Rigid body mechanics (F: Ch 9, T: Ch. 10)	HW4 due ~~4/29~~ 5/6
5/3	Coupled oscillators (F: Ch 11, T: Ch. 11)	HW5 due ~~5/6~~ 5/13
5/10	Coupled oscillators (F: Ch 11, T: Ch. 11)	HW6 due ~~5/13~~ 5/20
5/17	Hamiltonian mechanics (T: Ch. 13)	HW7 due ~~5/20~~ 5/27
5/24	Special Relativity (T: Ch. 15)	HW8 due ~~5/27~~ 6/3
5/31 (Monday holiday)	Continuum mechanics (T: Ch. 16)	~~HW9 due 6/3~~
6/7	Final exam: Monday June 7, 8 am-noon