Physics H7A, Fall 2003

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Introduction to Mechanics

Introduction to Mechanics

Note: This page contains legacy content retained by request of alumni who still use the resources

When and where: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-11, room 2 LeConte

Format: two 1.5 hr lectures per week (student participation strongly encouraged), weekly homework, discussion section, labs

Instructor: Assistant Professor Dmitry Budker

Professor's Office hour: Tu, 1-2, 273 Birge

GSI: Chih-Hao Li

GSI's Office hours: Mo, 3-4 and W, 12-1 in or in the hallway outside room 219 Birge

Discussions (led by C.-H. Li): Tu, 4-5 in room 31 Evans and W, 1-2 in room 425 Latimer

Labs: see Physics 7A schedule (labs will not be led by either the H7A Instructor or the GSI)

Midterm was on Thursday, Oct. 9 Please bring blue books

Final will be on Friday, Dec. 12, 9:30-11 in room 2 LeConte. Please bring blue books

Synopsis and goals of the course:
The course will provide an introduction to physics for natural scientists and engineers, and will cover a more-or-less standard range of topics, including:

  • Mathematical background: vectors, Cartesian and polar coordinates, derivatives, integrals, etc.
  • Newton's Laws
  • Linear and rotational motion
  • Dynamics of systems of particles
  • Energy, momentum, angular momentum
  • Conservation Laws
  • Planetary motion
  • The harmonic oscillator
  • Waves
  • Basic concepts in fluid mechanics
  • How to estimate things, guess answers without solving a problem, and know whether your answer is wrong right away
  • Etc.

Required text: Daniel Kleppner and Robert J. Kolenkow Introduction to Mechanics. McGraw Hill ; Boston, 1973.

Recommended texts:

  1. R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton, and M. Sands The Feynman Lectures on Physics, v. 1, Addison-Wesley (any edition)
  2. T. E. Faber Fluid Dynamics for Physicists, Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Grading policy: the final grade will be based on the following weighting: Homework - 50%; Midterm - 20%; Final - 20%, Labs - 10%. It will be required that all components of the course are successfully completed in order to get an "A" (i.e., no "A" without completing labs, for example).

Invaluable resource: questions on organizational aspects of the course may be directed to Ms. Claudia Trujillo of Physics Student Services.

Newsflash!

Find out about the most recent Nobel Prizes in Physics!

Midterm was on Thursday, Oct. 9. Students were asked to please bring blue books; books/computers/calculators were not allowed; one-page (two-sided) "cheat-sheets" were allowed and encouraged

Chih-Hao Li's midterm solutions: part 1, part 2, part 3

Final will be on Friday, Dec. 12, 9:30-11 in room 2 LeConte. Please bring blue books

Seminars and Colloquia

Lecture Notes, Electronic Tutorials

Assorted Physics-Related Links, Web Resources

Homework

Acknowledgment and Disclaimer: This material is based in part upon work supported by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recomendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).