Syllabus
Physics 496: Vibrations and
Waves
Fall 2009
Office: Upham: 153
Telephone: 472-1080
Office
hours: T
& R: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
W: 9:30 – 11:30 AM & 4:30 –
5:30 PM
All other times, by appointment only.
E-mail: boukahia@uww.edu
Course Description:
Topics covered include Free and Damped vibrations,
systems with one degree of freedom, Linear systems, Nonlinear systems,
Parametric resonance, Oscillations of systems with several degrees of freedom,
The wave equation, wave vector and phase velocity, group velocity, impedance,
energy density and flux, Doppler effect, Longitudinal Waves in fluids and
beams, Transverse waves, Vibrating strings and membranes, the solution of the
wave equation and applications. Two seventy five minute lectures per week.
Textbook: Vibrations and
Waves, A. P. French, W. W. Norton, 1971.
Please note: This text can
be purchased from the publisher at the cost of $35.
Topics to be covered
(Tentative)
1. General
introduction to vibrations.
2. Free and
Damped vibrations, systems with one degree of freedom.
3.
Linear systems (free and damped oscillations, notion of impedance).
4. Nonlinear
systems (relaxation).
5. Parametric
resonance.
6. Oscillations
of systems with several degrees of freedom
7. General
introduction to Waves.
8. The
wave equation, wave vector and phase velocity, group velocity,
impedance, energy density and flux, Doppler effect
9.
Longitudinal Waves in fluids and beams
10.
Transverse waves
11. Vibrating
strings and membranes
12. The
solution of the wave equation and applications
Exams:
Three
mid-terms and a final
1.
Exam 1: Thursday, Sep.24th in Room 141 UH
2.
Exam 2: Thursday, Oct. 22rd in Room 141 UH
3.
Exam 3: Thursday, Nov 19th in Room 141 UH
4.
Final Exam: Thursday, Dec. 15th
, 10:00 – 12:00 Noon, in 141 UH
Homework:
Homework will be assigned every week in
class on Thursday and will be 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.
Special
Item:
There
will be extra sessions offered to students registered for this course. These
one –hour sessions will focus on problem solving techniques, including
some homework problems. You are encouraged to attend these sessions. The time
and place will be announced before September 15, 2009.
Grading Policy
Your grade in
this course will be based on
1.
Homework 25% of
your final grade
2.
Exams: each of the top two counts 20%, and the lowest counts 15%
3.
Final exam counts 20%
of you final 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:
Avoid
missing a scheduled examination. No
make-up exams will be given. Class attendance is not required but the students are responsible for assignments if they do miss any class period.
All electronic devices (e.g., cellular phones, pagers, I-pods,
etc.) must be turned off while in
class. NO CELL PHONES ARE ALLOWED DURING EXAMS. You will not
be allowed to use cell phones as calculators
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].)