PHY 312 - Analytical Mechanics

Credits: 3

Employs advanced mathematical tools to study applications in complex mechanical systems. It offers an advanced differential reformulation of Newton’s laws to study dynamical systems in multiple dimensions, conservative force fields, damped and driven oscillations, two-body problem, central forces and planetary motion, and the rotational dynamics of rigid bodies. Additionally, the course delivers a thorough grounding on the calculus of variations, LaGrange’s Formalism and Hamiltonian mechanics, all being the essential foundations for the development of modern physics (relativity, quantum mechanics, and quantum field theory).

Pre-Requisites: PHY 202 and MTH 211.
Repeatable: May not be repeated for credit
Lecture: 3 hours per week