University Physics
Classical Mechanics
The intermediate mechanics course of physics programmes: Newtonian mechanics revisited, and the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations.
Curriculum / Syllabus
- Newtonian Mechanics and Conservation Laws
- Oscillations: Damped, Driven and Coupled
- Central Forces and the Kepler Problem
- Non-Inertial Reference Frames
- Calculus of Variations
- Lagrangian Mechanics
- Hamiltonian Mechanics and Rigid Body Motion
Exam & Course Strategy
Problems usually ask you to set up the Lagrangian of a system, derive the equations of motion and analyse them. Choosing good generalised coordinates is the skill we build.