Duration:
Number of lectures per week: 3
Assessment:
End-of-year Examination: One 3-hour examination
Description:
The first part of the
course deal with classical mechanics and is a continuation of
course 141. Lagrange equations are introduced and applied to various
dynamical problems. The course continues with an
introduction to the methods of analytical dynamics developed
by Hamilton. Small oscillations are treated. Liouville theorem is discussed.
The course then
provides an introduction to Quantum Mechanics. Topics covered:
Uncertainty Principle X and P representation:
one dimensional harmonic oscillator and one dimensional
potential problems including and scattering and bound state problems.
The course then provides an introduction to special relativity, the general and special Lorentz
transformations, kinematics of special relativity with applications
and relativistic mechanics.
Objectives: Introduction to Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics,
Introduction to quantum mechanism and to special relativity.
Textbooks:
Classical Mechanics H. Goldstein/Classical Mechanics
L.D. Landau and E.M. Lifshitz
Variational Principles of Mechanics C. Lanczos
Special Relativity W. Rindler (Oxford Science Publications 2nd
edition (1991))
Special Relativity A.P. French (The M.I.T. Introductory Physics
Series).
Mar 27, 2003
Mar 27, 2003