Department of Physics
PHY-4221 Introduction to Classical Mechanics Fall, 2018
Text Book: Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, Fifth Edition by S. T. Thornton and J. B. Marion
Instructor: Dr. Yifu Zhu (Office: CP231; Lab.: OE126; Tel: 4075; E-mail: yifuzhu@fiu.edu)
Website: http://faculty.fiu.edu/~yifuzhu/Teaching.htm
Class Contents: Matrices, vectors, and their mathematical properties; Newtonian mechanics:
Newton's laws, momentum conservation and energy conservation, harmonic
oscillations in one and two dimensions, damped oscillations, sinusoidal driving
forces and resonance phenomena, ,
gravitation and ocean tides, variational methods and
Euler's equations, Hamilton's principle, Lagrangian,
generalized coordinates and Lagrange rquations of motion, Hamiltonian and
canonical equations of motion.
Class Time: 11:00-12:40, Tuesdays and Thursdays, CBC140
Office Hours: 14:00 - 16:00, Tuesdays and Thursdays (For other times, you can contact me and make an appointment)
Class Attendance: Attending class is essential for understanding the course materials, developing problem solving techniques, and up-to-date class announcements. You are responsible for all information and instructions discussed in class whether or not you were present. Be on time.
Home Work: Homework Problems will be assigned in class and due one week after the assignment. There will be three middle-term tests and one final exam (cumulative). The lowest score for one of the three middle-term tests will be dropped.
Grading Policy:
Homework: 10%
2 Middle-Term Tests: 50% (The lowest score in one of the three middle-term tests will be dropped.)
1 Final Exam: 40%
Test Dates:
First
Middle-Term Test: Sept. 20 (Thursday)
11:00 - 12:40
Second Middle-Term Test: Oct. 25 (Thursday)
11:00 - 12:40
Third Middle-Term Test:
Nov. 20 (Tuesday)
11:00 - 12:40
Final Exam:
Dec. 6 (Thursday) 9:45
- 11:45
Homework Assignment:
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Chapter 1 |
3,9,15,25,27,28,30,31,33,36,38. Due 9/11 |
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Chapter 2 |
4,9,11,16,25,29,37,41 Due 10/4 |
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Chapter 3 |
2,4,7,12,17,22, 28,29 Due 10/25 |
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Chapter 5 |
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Chapter 6 |
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Chapter 7 |
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Chapter 8 |
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Chapter 9 |
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Chapter 10 |
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Chapter 11 |
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Chapter 12 |
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Chapter 13 |
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Chapter 14 |