Physics 664 -- Spring, 2003

Course title:: Theoretical Mechanics
Text:: classical dynamics of particles and systems, 4th Edition, by Marion and Thornton.
Topics to be covered:
What happens when you stop ignoring friction? Review of Newtonian mechanics Simple oscillations Nonlinear dynamics and chaos Calculus of variations Lagrangian mechanics What do you want?
Meeting Schedule:: Three days each week (MRF) in Smith 1042; One day (Wednesday) in Smith 2082 for Mathematica labs
Grade Weighting (preliminary):: Homework [1/4]; Quizzes (drop 2)[1/6]; Two one-hour midterms [1/4]; Final (two hours) [1/3]

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Mathematica Labs

April 9: Kilcup's 1st set of exercises & some solutions. A much better solution to the 2nd problem from Furnstahl.
April 16: Add friction for a projectile. Here are partial solutions.
April 23: Damped-driven oscillator. Try not to look at some solutions.
April 30: Logistic Map.
May 7: Modify each of these three logistic map notebooks from "Nonlinear Physics with Mathematica," by Enns and McGuire
to study the map f(x)=a*x*(1-x)*(1+x). Geometrical Representation, Bifurcation, Lyapunov Exponent.
May 7: Thanks for the anonymous email about previous pendulum experience.
May 14: Variational calculus and Lagrange's equations.
May 21: Roller coaster
May 28: cancelled for seminar by Ken Wilson in Smith 4079
June 4:

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Homework is due at the beginning of class on Thursday.

Hwk #1 (due 10 Apr)--- Ch. 2: 3,4,11,13,28 solutions
Hwk #2 (due 17 Apr)--- Ch. 2: 29,37,39,56; Ch. 3: 4,5; extra credit Ch. 2: 42 solutions
Hwk #3 (due 24 Apr)--- Ch. 3: 11, 12, 21, 32, 35 solutions
Hwk #4 (due 1 May)---- No Homework
Hwk #5 (due 8 May)---- Ch. 4: 2, 8, 10, 11, 12 solution to problem 10 (22 MB)
Hwk #6 (due 16 May)--- Pick 5 problems from Ch. 4: 14-23. partial solutions
Hwk #7 (due 23 May)--- Ch. 6: 3, 12; Ch. 7: 4, 6, 7 solutions
Hwk #8 (due 30 May note Fri. date**)--- Ch. 5: 4, 15; Ch. 7: 2, 3, 12 solutions
Hwk #9 (due 5 June)--- NONE