Syllabus
Physics 310: Classical
Mechanics
Spring 2009
T & R:
12:30 – 1:45 PM, UH 142
Office: Upham: 153
Telephone: 472-1080
Office
hours: T:
3:00 – 6:00 PM
W:
10:00 – 11:00 AM
12:05 –
1:05 PM
All other times by appointment only
E-mail: boukahia@uww.edu
Course
Description:
A study of classical mechanics. Topics to be covered will include
vector calculus techniques, dynamics of particles and systems and central force
systems. Required of all majors and minors in physics. Three one-hour lectures
per week.
Prerequisite: PHYSCS 324.
Required
texts:
1. Textbook:
Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, S. Thornton and J. Marion,
5th edition, Brooks/Cole, 2004. (Available from
textbook rental).
2. Student
Solutions Manual: Contains
the solutions to a large number of end of chapter problems. This text can
be purchased from the bookstore.
Tentative
Topics to be covered:
Chapter
2: Newtonian Mechanics-Single Particle systems
Chapter
3: Oscillations
Chapter
4: Nonlinear Oscillations
First
Exam
Chapter
5: Gravitation
Chapter
6: Calculus of Variations
Chapter
7: Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics
Chapter
8: Central-Force Motion
Second
Exam
Chapter
9: Dynamics of Many-Particle Systems
Chapter
10: Motion in a Noninertial Reference Frame
Chapter
12: Coupled Oscillations
Third
Exam
Exams:
Three
mid-terms and a final
1.
Exam 1: Thursday, Feb. 19bth in Room UH 142
2.
Exam 2: Thursday, Mar. 19th in Room UH 142
3.
Exam 3: Thursday, Apr. 23rd in Room UH 142
4.
Final Exam: Monday, May 18th
, 1:00 – 3:00 PM, in UH 142
Homework:
Homework will
be assigned every week on Thursday and
collected the
following Thursday. You are encouraged to start
working on your
assignment as soon as possible. Feel free to stop by my
office if you need help. DO NOT LET THINGS
PILE UP.
Grading Policy
Your grade in
this course will be based on
1.
Homework 25%
2.
Exams: each of the top three counts 20%, and the lowest counts 15%
3. The final
exam is cumulative and counts 25% of
your total grade.
Grading Scale:
A
95% —100%
A- 90%
— 94%
B+ 86%
— 89%
B 82%
— 85%
B- 78%
— 81%
C+ 74% —
77%
C 70%
— 73%
C- 66%
— 69%
D+ 61% — 65%
D 56%
— 60%
D- 50% — 55%
F
<50%
Course Policies:
1) Avoid missing a
scheduled examination. No make-up exams will be given.
2) Students are responsible for assignments if they do
miss any class period, except for excused absences such as illness or
University sanctioned events.
Please note the following concerning missing scheduled
exams:
I- University sanctioned events: The student can take
the scheduled midterm exam before or after the event.
II- Excused absence (Medical Proof from a Doctor,
Health Services notes will not be accepted as a medical proof) from a scheduled
exam: The student must contact me by e-mail or telephone, or the department
secretary before the exam time informing us of her/his case. The department
office secretaryÕs phone number is 262-472-1067. You can leave you message in
case the secretary is away from her desk. In this case the missed exam will be
the average of all the exams taken.
Special needs
statement: Students with special
needs should contact the instructor to make appropriate arrangements.
The University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory
learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and
graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accomodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accomodation, Discrimination and Absence for
University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate
and Graduate Timetables; the Rights and
Responsibilities section of the Undergraduate Bulletin; the
Academic
Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and
Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and
the Student Academic
Disciplinary Procedures [UWS Chapter 14]; and the Student Nonacademic
Disciplinary Procedures [UWS Chapter 17].)