Undergraduate Course: MP2B: Dynamics (PHYS08033)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Physics and Astronomy |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 08 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) |
Other subject area |
Specialist Mathematics & Statistics (Year 2) |
| Course website |
None |
|
|
| Course description |
The course provides an introduction to Mathematical Physics and training in the associated concepts and mathematical skills. The strong connections between Mathematics and Physics are highlighted within the arena of Classical Dynamics. Beginning from Newton's second law as a differential equation, key physical quantities such as energy and angular momentum are identified and defined mathematically. The role of conservation laws is underlined and contrasted with dissipative systems. Simple harmonic motion is established as a fundamental mathematical model for physical systems. Collective oscillation problems are treated and the wave equation is derived.
Galilean and Newtonian models of gravity are introduced and orbits and the Kepler problem are studied. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: 0 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Additional information |
Workshops two hours per week. |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
After completion of the course the student should demonstrate an ability to:
1. starting from Newton's second law as a differential equation, formulate one- and two-dimensional dynamical problems including motions under gravity, motions with resistive forces, motions with variable mass.
2. solve first and second order linear differential equations appearing in dynamical contexts; fit and interpret physical boundary and initial conditions.
3. define mathematically key physical quantities such as energy, momentum and angular momentum and derive conservation laws in relevant cases.
4. understand simple harmonic motion as a mathematical model including the roles of damping and forcing
5. understand motion in a general potential, classical limits of the motion and small oscillations near a potential minimum
6. understand the factorization of centre-of-mass and relative motion in many particle systems
7. model several-body systems by coupled differential equations, linearize near stable equilibria and derive normal mode solutions for collective motion
8. set up two and three dimensional dynamical problems in vector notation and simple non-Cartesian co-ordinate systems, in particular plane polar and spherical polar coordinates
9. set up and solve central force orbits; find solutions for circular motion and analyse their stability within a linear approximation
10. understand the meaning and the terms open, closed and stable orbits and the occurrence of elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic orbits
11. derive the wave equation and find its solution for particular boundary conditions by the techniques of
separation of variables and Fourier series.
12. understand the importance of different frames of reference and transformations between them. |
Assessment Information
Degree Examination, 85%
Coursework, 15% |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Prof Martin Evans
Tel: (0131 6)50 5294
Email: M.Evans@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Mrs Linda Grieve
Tel: (0131 6)50 5254
Email: linda.grieve@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:34 am
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