Classical Mechanics And Special Relativity

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course gives a review to the basic principles and introduction to advanced methods of mechanics, emphasizing the relationship between dynamical symmetries and conserved quantities, as well as classical mechanics as a background to quantum mechanics.

This course is also designed to help the student acquire an understanding of the formalism and concepts of relativity as well as its application to physical problems.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, the students should be able to:

·         Discuss Newtonian mechanics with forces and torques to solve problems in Cartesian and curvilinear coordinates.

·         Solve mechanics problems using work-energy, and conservation of energy, momentum and angular momentum.

·         Solve and analyze rigid-body problems.

·         Solve mechanics problems in non-inertial frames.

·         Describe Lagrangian mechanics to obtain the equations of motion for a variety of problems, including the use of generalized coordinates and cyclic coordinates.

·         Discuss perturbation and similar techniques to linearize equations of motion to analyze stability and study coupled systems using normal modes.

·         Analyse the Lorentz transformation equation.

·         Carry out advanced course in mechanics.