| Lecture:
1313 Sterling Hall, MWF 9:55 AM, Sept.
2-Dec. 14, 2001 (see Fall
timetable entry).
Discussion:
A weekly discussion will
be used for working problems:
The discussion will be
held at three times:
- 1:20-2:15, Wednesday in
B129 Van Vleck
- 1:20-2:15 Thursday, B1327 Sterling
Hall
- 1:20-2:15 Friday. B1327 Sterling
Hall
Text:
Prerequisites:
Physics 202 or 208 & Math 223.
Numerical Component:
A numerical problem will be assigned
each week. Example problems will use IDL
as a programming language and plotting package for examining
solutions to problems. Students will have access to
PCs running Windows or Linux in the computational physics
laboratory (Sterling 2409 [computing-help]).
The laboratory will be open everyday during the work day,
will have an instructor (Prof. Sridhara Dasu dasu@hep.wisc.edu
) 3:30 - 8:00 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. In addition,
the members of the Physics Club can use the physics club key
to get into the lab after hours. The goal of the numerical
part of the class will be (1) to teach a few numerical techniques
which can be used for a multitude of problems in physics (these
include Runge-Kutta integration of coupled ODEs, integrations
of functions, and matrix operations) , (2) use numerical methods
to study topics of modern mechanics (chaos and non-linear
dynamics) which are difficult to study in other ways,
and (3) become adept at plotting and visualizing solutions
of problems.
Midterm Exams:
Two in-class midterm exams will be
given. The first will be on Oct 15, the second on Nov 26.
Final Exam Thursday, Dec 20, 2:45 PM, Room 3331 Sterling
Hall
Grades The grades will be based upon class rank with
the following makeup:
| component |
percentage |
| homework |
30 |
| midterm 1 |
20 |
| midterm 2 |
20 |
| final exam |
30 |
Syllabus (Approximate):
| Week |
Dates |
Topics |
Chapter |
| 1 |
Sept 5, 7 |
vectors, matrices |
1 |
| 2 |
Sept 10, 12, 14 |
particle motion |
2 |
| 3 |
Sep 17, 19, 21 |
potential, equilibrium, rockets |
2 |
| 4 |
Sept 24, 26, 28 |
harmonic oscillator, phase diagrams, forced
and damped osc |
3 |
| 5 |
Oct 1, 3, 5 |
non-linear oscillations |
4 |
| 6 |
Oct 8, 10, 12 |
chaos, gravity |
4-5 |
| 7 |
Oct 15, 17, 19 |
gravitational motion and tides, Exam |
5 |
| 8 |
Oct 22, 24, 26 |
calculus of variations, Hamilton's principle |
6-7 |
| 9 |
Oct 29, 31, Nov 2 |
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Dynamics |
7 |
| 10 |
Nov 5, 7, 9 |
central force motion, reduced mass, orbits |
8 |
| 11 |
Nov 12, 14, 16 |
systems of particles, Rutherford Scattering |
9 |
| 12 |
Nov 19, 21 |
non-inertial reference frames |
10 |
| 13 |
Nov 26, 28, 30 |
Exam, dynamics of rigid bodies, inertia |
11 |
| 14 |
Dec 3, 5, 7 |
coupled oscillations, normal modes |
12 |
| 15 |
Dec 10, 12, 14 |
waves |
13 |
|
