PHY 820: Classical Mechanics

-- Course Description

Scheduled Time & Place: 11:30-12:20 M W F, 1420BPS

Instructor: Pawel Danielewicz
Office: 223 Cyclotron
Phone: 333-6330 (5-9672 x. 330 from campus)
E-mail: danielewicz@nscl.msu.edu
Office Hours: 1:50-2:40 M F (or by appointment)

Grader: Taejin Hwang

Textbooks:

Required: H. Goldstein, Ch. Poole and J. Safko, Classical Mechanics, 3rd Ed. (Addison Wesley)

More concise: L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz, Mechanics,
V. D. Barger, M. Olsson, Classical Mechanics: A Modern Pespective.
Some topics discussed more: J. V. Jose, E. J. Saletan: Classical Dynamics: A Contemporary Approach.

Grading: Homework - 25%, 2 Midterms - 30%, Final - 35%, Quizzes - 15%

Note: The quizzes will be unannounced. Extra 5% has been added to the quizzes to compensate for absences or being particularly caught by surprise.

The final plays also the role of a subject exam within the departmental graduate degree requirements.
The times planned for the exams are as follows: Mid. I - Oct. 14, Mid. II - Nov. 25, Fin. - Dec. 12.

Planned Topics

Topic Textbook Reading
Introduction 1.1-6
Variational Principle & Lagrange Eqs 2.1-7
Central-Force Problem 3.1-11
Rigid-Body Kinematics 4.1-10
Rigid-Body Motion 5.1-7
Small Oscillations 6.1-5
Special Relativity 7.1-7, 7.9-10
Hamilton Eqs 8.1-2, 8.4-6
Canonical Transformations 9.1-3, 9.5-6
Hamilton-Jacobi Theory 10.1-6
Classical Chaos 11.1-5
Continuous Systems 13.1-4

Please note:
 The final exam will take place on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 10am to 1pm, in Rm. 1415 BPS.
Practice Exams

Homework: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Selected Homework Solutions: 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-1a, 2-1b, 2-2+3a, 2-3b, 2-4a, 2-4b, 2-5, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4a, 3-4b, 3-5a, 3-5b, 4-1, 4-2a, 4-2b, 4-3a, 4-3b, 4-4, 4-5, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3a, 5-3b, 5-4, 5-5a, 5-5b, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3a, 6-3b, 6-4a, 6-4b, 6-5, 7-1a, 7-1b, 7-1c, 7-1d, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, 7-5, 8-1, 8-2, 8-3a, 8-3b, 8-4a, 8-4b, 8-5a, 8-5b, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3a, 9-3b, 9-3c, 9-3d, 9-4, 9-5, 10-1a, 10-1b, 10-2, 10-3a, 10-3b, 10-3c, 10-3d, 10-4, 10-5a, 10-5b, 11-1a, 11-1b, 11-1c, 11-1d, 11-1e, 11-1f, 11-1g, 11-2a, 11-2b, 11-2c, 11-3a, 11-3b, 11-4a, 11-4b, 11-4c, 11-5a, 11-5b, 12-1a, 12-1b, 12-2, 12-3a, 12-3b, 12-4a, 12-4b, 12-5a, 12-5b, 12-5c, 13-1a, 13-1b, 13-2a, 13-2b, 13-3a, 13-3b, 13-4a, 13-4b, 13-4c, 13-4d, 13-4e, 13-4f, 14-1, 14-2a, 14-2b, 14-3a, 14-3b, 14-3c, 14-4, 15-1a, 15-1b, 15-2a, 15-2b, 15-3a, 15-3b, 15-4a, 15-4b,
Quizzes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Quiz Solutions: 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5, 6a, 6b, 7,
Exams: 1, 2, Final
Exam Solutions: 1-1, 1-2a, 1-2b, 1-3a, 1-3b, 1-4, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4a, 2-4b, F-1a, F-1b, F-2a, F-2b, F-3a, F-3b, F-3c, F-4a, F-4b, F-5a, F-5b,
Midterm I Score Distribution
Midterm II Score Distribution
Final Score Distribution

Course Results
St. No. Hom Tot Q Tot Mid Tot Final Sub Grd Score Cour Grd
maximum 700 35 80 150 4.0 100 4.0
A26215095 524 17 42 93 3.5 63 3.5
A27104925 287 14 29 21 1.0 32 2.5
A27390371 604 21 49 62.5 3.0 64 3.5
A28183678 519 16 28 48 2.5 47 3.0
A28268816 585 6 29 41 2.5 44 3.0
A28425592 623 22 58 80 3.5 72 3.5
A30497376 640 17 53 88 3.5 71 3.5
A31455202 473 13 17 50 2.5 41 3.0
A31755317 469 14 34 44 2.5 46 3.0
A31958699 612 19 67 79 3.5 74 4.0
A32191945 549 27 48 68 3.0 65 3.5
A32211144 637 27 71 107 4.0 86 4.0
A32276851 505 23 53 101 4.0 71 3.5
A32305666 289 13 49 59 3.0 48 3.0
A32846979 598 21 52 103 4.0 74 4.0
A32980411 589 14 39 112 4.0 68 3.5
A32989982 505 0 57 78 3.5 62 3.5
A33025127 535 14 34 58 3.0 51 3.0
A33084943 414 8 15 33 2.0 32 2.5
A33163910 636 30 65 98 4.0 83 4.0
A33197520 666 31 61 119 4.0 88 4.0
A33318676 618 25 61 107 4.0 81 4.0
A33333611 579 12 69 68 3.0 68 3.5
A33516990 541 15 29 35 2.0 45 3.0
A33596654 500 15 34 49 2.5 48 3.0
A33659454 639 18 54 119.5 4.0 79 4.0
A33715861 624 10 49 70 3.0 61 3.5
average 546.7 17.1 46.15 73.74 3.148 61.5 3.407