UConn Physics Department, Physics 5201 / Yelin

Physics 5201
Theoretical Mechanics I
Susanne Yelin
Fall Semester, 2009

Syllabus

Date
Title
Content
HWs/Sols/Reading

Sep. 1 Survey of classical mechanics: single particles [pdf] Short intro and history of mechanics. Newtonian equations of motion for single particles. Chapter 1

Sep. 3 Ensembles of particles. Idea of constraints. [pdf] Real objects can be described as ensembles of particles. This leads to a convenient and often intuitive description in terms of center-of-mass (COM) and relative variables. In particular, total momentum equals COM momentum, total angular momentum the sum of angular momenta of the COM and around the COM, the same is true for kinetic energy. The total potential energy is the sum of the single-particle external potentials, and one half the sum over all two-particle internal potentials.

Sep. 8 Generalized coordinates and constraints [pdf] If there are constraints present in the system, the usual coordinate variables are not independent anymore. d'Alembert's principle (and later Hamilton's principle, both leading to a Lagrange formulation of the equations of motion) gives a formal answer as to how to deal with constraints and (independent) "generalized coordinates."

Sep. 10 Lagrange's equations

This page is maintained by S. Yelin susanne.yelin@uconn.edu
last updated December 17, 2009

Date	Title	Content	HWs/Sols/Reading

Sep. 1	Survey of classical mechanics: single particles [pdf]	Short intro and history of mechanics. Newtonian equations of motion for single particles.	Chapter 1
Sep. 3	Ensembles of particles. Idea of constraints. [pdf]	Real objects can be described as ensembles of particles. This leads to a convenient and often intuitive description in terms of center-of-mass (COM) and relative variables. In particular, total momentum equals COM momentum, total angular momentum the sum of angular momenta of the COM and around the COM, the same is true for kinetic energy. The total potential energy is the sum of the single-particle external potentials, and one half the sum over all two-particle internal potentials.

Sep. 8	Generalized coordinates and constraints [pdf]	If there are constraints present in the system, the usual coordinate variables are not independent anymore. d'Alembert's principle (and later Hamilton's principle, both leading to a Lagrange formulation of the equations of motion) gives a formal answer as to how to deal with constraints and (independent) "generalized coordinates."
Sep. 10	Lagrange's equations This page is maintained by S. Yelin susanne.yelin@uconn.edu last updated December 17, 2009