PHY 4222
Sprng 2012


Description of the Course

PHY 4222 is the second half of an intermediate level course on classical mechanics. It covers the topics of system dynamics, scattering, noninertial reference frames, rigid body rotation, coupled oscillators, normal coordinates, and wave motion.

Prerequesites

Highly Recommended

Useful

Text Book

Stephen Thornton and Jerry Marion
CLASSICAL DYNAMICS OF PARTICLES AND SYSTEMS, Fifth Edition
Thomson -- Brooks/Cole
ISBN-10: 0-534-40896-6

Course Links

Course Outline

Problem Sets

Problem Solutions

Test Solutions

Grades

Grades will be based on the problem assignments and three exams as follows:

Best test score -- 35%
2nd best test score -- 30%
Worst test score -- 15%
Homework -- 20%

A passing grade (C or better) will require approximately 50% of the total points possible; an A grade will require 85% of the total points possible.

All tests must be taken on the scheduled date. Makeup tests will not be given. If you miss a test for any reason, you will receive a zero grade for that test.

Incompletes

Incompletes will be given only in the event of an emergency occurring immediately prior to the date of the last test. To receive an incomplete, a student must provide documentation to support the claim of an emergency. Students who do not have a passing grade at the time of the last test will not be given an incomplete under any circumstances. Incompletes normally have to be made up within one month of the end of the semester.

Homework Assignments

Homework will consist of reading from the text and problem assignments. It is generally advisable to carry out the reading before the corresponding material is discussed in lecture. The problem assignments can be downloaded and the due dates obtained on the problem sets page. Late assignments will not be accepted. While collaboration on homework assignments is allowed, simply copying another student's solutions is not allowed and will be considered cheating.