Lahore University of Management Sciences

PHY 301 Classical Mechanics

Spring 2013


Instructor Fakharul Inam
Room No.
Office Hours
Email fakhar.inam@lums.edu.pk
Telephone
Secretary/TA
TA Office Hours
Course URL (if any)

Course Basics
Credit Hours 3
Lecture(s) Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week 2 Duration 1:15 hours
Recitation (per week) Nbr of Rec (s) Per
Week
1 Duration 1 hour
Lab (if any ) per week Nbr of Session(s) Per
Week
Duration
Tutorial (per week) Nbr of Tut(s) Per
Week
Duration

Course Distribution
Core Core (Physics)
Elective
Open for Student Category
Closed for Student Category

COURSE DESCRIPTION
We will start with a quick review of basic concepts like linear and angular momentum, conservative forces and energy in Newtonian Mechanics.
We will learn how to draw the phase space trajectories to study the dynamics of objects subjected to various kind of potentials. Next we will
move on to develop Lagrange formalism of classical mechanics starting with the introduction of calculus of variation and will spend considerable
time dealing with various static (rigid body) and dynamic (rotations, oscillations and two body central force) problems. Further we will cover some
special topics like Hamilton principle, poisson brakets, canonical transformations, and Non-linear dynamics.

COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)







COURSE OBJECTIVES




Learn the mathematical framework.
Be able to use the mathematical tools to work out practical problems.
Develop a sense of appreciation





Lahore University of Management Sciences



Learning Outcomes





Grading Breakup and Policy

Assignment(s): 20%
Home Work:
Quiz(s): 10%
Class Participation:
Attendance:
Midterm Examination: 35%
Project:
Final Examination: 35%


Examination Detail
Midterm
Exam

Yes/No: yes
Combine Separate:
Duration: 3 hour
Preferred Date:
Exam Specifications:

Final Exam

Yes/No: yes
Combine Separate:
Duration: 4 hour
Exam Specifications:



COURSE OVERVIEW
Week/ Lecture/
Module
Topics
Recommended
Readings
Objectives/
Application

Review of Newtonian mechanics; linear and
angular momentum, work and central forces and
energy. Phase space trajectories.


Constraints, generalized coordinates, Lagrange
equation, Lagrange multiplier methods


Calculus of Variations,Euler-Lagrange equations,
Noethers theorem


Two body central force problems, effective
potential and kepler problems.


Rigid body kinematics and dynamics. Small
Oscillations


Hamilton formalism, canonical transformation

Non-linear dynamics and introduction to chaos.





Lahore University of Management Sciences




Textbook(s)/Supplementary Readings
Reading material in the form of chapters from various text books, along with the class notes will be provided. Standard texts for examples by
Taylor and Gregory will be followed.