PHYS 386 - Classical Mechanics

This course offers a theoretical treatment of classical mechanics including Newtonian mechanics; conservation laws; energy, momentum and angular momentum; constrained systems; and Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics. Fundamental theories are applied to selected topics such as central forces and the two-body problem; the Coulomb problem and planetary orbits; scattering of particles by a potential; small oscillations; non-inertial reference frames; rigid body dynamics; and chaotic systems.

Prerequisites: PHYS 275 - Vibrations and Waves and PHYS 382 - Mathematical Physics with grades of “C” or higher. Pre- or Corequisite: MATH 365 - Ordinary Differential Equations.
Credits: 3
When Offered: (fall only)
NOTE:
* Honors Scholar Course.
** This course counts toward the 63-credit Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) graduation requirement.