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THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGHDEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2008/2009
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Dynamics and Relativity (VS1) (U02549)? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 9 ? Acronym : PHY-3-VDynRel This course emphasises frames of reference in discussing the classical mechanics of particles. It starts with a review of Newtonian mechanics, the importance of inertial frames and the classical description of collisions and scattering processes. Non-inertial frames are introduced, leading to a discussion of the centrifugal and Coriolis forces. There follows a substantial section on Special Relativity, which introduces Lorentz transformations, Minkowski spacetime, relativistic kinematics, and the application of four-vector methods to particle collisions and decays. The course concludes with an introduction to General Relativity through a discussion of the equivalence principle, and the idea of curved spacetime. Entry Requirements? This course is only available to part year visiting students. ? This course is a variant of the following course : U01343 ? Pre-requisites : Year 2 Physics and Mathematics. Subject AreasHome subject areaUndergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy), (School of Physics and Astronomy, Schedule Q) Delivery Information? Normal year taken : 3rd year ? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2) ? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks All of the following classes
? Additional Class Information : Workshop/tutorial sessions, as arranged. Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1)state the definition of an 'inertial frame', understand the virtues of using the 'Lab' and 'Centre of Mass' frames and exploit them in problem-solving by means of the Galilean transformation 2)Apply appropriate conservation laws to two particle scattering problems, and hence determine scattering trajectories, differential cross-sections and total cross-sections; 3)Explain the occurrence of 'fictitious forces' in accelerating reference frames; 4)Interpret and apply formulae for the centrifugal and coriolis forces in a rotating frame' 5)State the postulates of Special Relativity and discuss their implications for 'simultaneity'; 6)State the Lorentz transformation and demonstrate the utility of Minkowski diagrams; 7)Apply the Lorentz transformation in problem solving and use it to derive time dilation, length contraction and velocity addition formulae; 8)State the definition of 4-vectors, demonstrate the Lorentz invariance of their scalar products and appreciate their significance in the context of causality; 9)Apply the 4-vector formulation of relativistic dynamics to particle decays and relativistic collisions; 10)Discuss 'Equivalence' and space-time curvature, and derive the gravitational Doppler shift formula. Assessment Information
Coursework, 20%
Degree Examination, 80% Exam times
Contact and Further InformationThe Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries. Course Secretary Mrs Linda Grieve Course Organiser Dr Jamie Cole School Website : http://www.ph.ed.ac.uk/ College Website : http://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/ |
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