DEPT HOME

   Assignments A1 (Due Sept. 13)
A2 (Due Sept. 27)
A3 (Due Oct. 11)
A4 (Due Oct. 25)
A5 (Due Nov. 1)
A6 (Due Nov. 8)
A7 (Due Nov. 22)
A8 (Due Dec. 4)
Grades
   Analytical solutions S1
S2
S3
Midterm's solution
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
   Numerical solutions N1
N2
N3
N4
N5
N6
N7
N8
   Numerical Tutorials Tutorial 1
Tutorial 2
Tutorial 3
Tutorial 4
Tutorial 5
Tutorial 6
Tutorial 7
Tutorial 8
Tutorial 9
Tutorial 10
   Lecture Notes L01
L02
L03
L04
L05
L06
L07
L08
L09
L10
L11
L12
L13
L14
L15
L16
L17
L18
L19
L20
L21
L22
L23
L24
L25
L26
L27
L28
L29
L30
   Extra Materials
MATLAB scripts for driven pendulum (Sept. 28)
 Practice Midterm (2014)
Final 2012 (Solution)
Three Body Problem (Mathematica Notebook)

   

Physics 321A: Classical Mechanics I (Fall 2019)

Professors

co-taught by Ruobing Dong and Rogério de Sousa


Lectures


Tue, Wed, Fri: 10:30 - 11:20 am, Cornett A129.

Attendance not required, but strongly recommended.

It is strictly prohibited to use cell phones, laptops, perform texting or social networking during class (As an exception, we allow the use of laptops or tablets to take notes or access the textbook during class).

Students are encouraged to ask questions during the lecture. Even the simplest question can be helpful to other students and make the lecturer understand that something is being misunderstood.

Office hours

Thursdays 2:00 - 3:00 pm at Elliott 117.

During office hours we will work together with students to solve some of the assigned problems. We do not simply give the answer; instead, we guide students with hints and suggestions so that they will find their own solution to the problems.

How to send a message to the lecturer: Use the Forum at CourseSpaces:

http://coursespaces.uvic.ca/mod/forum/view.php?id=1252592

For all homework or course questions, please use the forum. That way all students will have access to our conversation. If you wish to send us a private message instead, please send it to our UVic email, email or email.

Tutorial on computational problem solving

In this tutorial you will learn computational physics methods to solve problems in classical mechanics.
Tutorial TA:
Dr. Pavel Denisenkov
Time and place:
Fri 12:30 pm - 1:20 pm, Elliott 162

Textbook

"Classical Mechanics", Kibble & Berkshire, 5th ed.

Other suggested books

  • "Mechanics", Course of Theoretical Physics Vol 1, Landau and Lifshitz
    Concise and elegantly written by one of the best theoretical physicists

  • "Classical Mechanics", H. Goldstein
    Well organized, comprehensive graduate course


Topics to be covered
  • Newtonian Mechanics in 1d
  • Motion in 3d
  • Noninertial reference systems
  • Gravitation and central forces
  • Dynamics of systems of particles
  • Lagrangian Mechanics

(Yes! You should not have a degree in physics
without learning about Lagrangians and the
principle of least action)
  • Oscillating systems, continuum limit and wave equation
(If time allows)

Laboratory

Students must pass the lab. section to receive a passing grade in the course.
The lab. session is coordinated by Douglas McKenzie.   The first (introductory) lab. lecture will happen during the week of September 9, and all students are required to attend their respective session this week.  Students are required to attend the lab. 3 times during the term to perform the 3 experiments below (one experiment per 3 hours lab. session).  Reports are due one week after performing the experiment.  Any questions about the lab should be addressed to Mr. McKenzie, at ..

  • Mechanical oscillator (Matlab analysis);
  • Harmonic motion;
  • Compound pendulum.

Students are required to register for one of the lab sections

  • B01: Mondays, 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
  • B02: Tuesdays, 4:30 pm - 7:20 pm
  • B03: Wednesdays, 2:30 pm -5:20 pm
  • B04: Thursdays, 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
  • B05: Fridays, 2:30 pm - 5:20 pm
  • B06: Thursdays, 6:30 pm - 9:20 pm

Grading scheme
Numerical problems in the assignments
 10%
Analytical problems in the assignments 10%
Labs 20%
Midterm 20%
Final 40%


Assignments

There will be 8 assignments.  All assignments are already posted on the web, with noted due dates on Friday at 6pm  (Exceptions will be posted on this website). The assignments must be inserted in the "P321A"  dropbox located in the left of Elliott 136. 

Assignment solutions will be available online Mondays after the due date (links on the left).


Computer problems will count toward your grade!

Each homework assignment will contain one numerical problem that can only be solved with the  computer. During the tutorial, the TA will describe the solution to a similar problem using Python.

We recommend Python, but if the student prefers, s/he can use MATLAB. UVic students can  download MATLAB for free here. Alternatively, MATLAB can be used in the Computer Lab located in the A wing of the Clearihue building.

Students should submit their solution to the numerical problem as a single .pdf file before the homework deadline; the file must include source code and a brief comment explaining what each command is doing.


To submit, click on the link:

https://www.dropbox.com/request/dR2P77KukATEKh1YAxEu

TA: The analytical problems in the assignment will be graded by Meisam Ghasemi.
Any questions on the grading of analytical problems should be addressed directly to him by email at email. The numerical problems will be graded by Dr. Pavel Denisenkov. Any questions about grading on the numerical problems should be addressed directly to him at email.

Midterm exam

Oct. 11th (Friday), in class at 10:30 am - 11:20 am


Notes on the exams

  • On all examinations the only acceptable calculator is the sharp EL-510R.  This calculator can be bought in the bookstore for about $10.  DO NOT bring any other calculator to the examinations.
     
  • You are allowed one 8.5X11'' handwritten formula/note sheet (you may write on both sides). You will be responsible for the "usual" constants that we have dealt with in class on a regular basis.

Final letter grade: UVic's percentage grading system

A+ 90-100 Exceptional performance.
A 85-89 Outstanding performance.
A- 80-84 Excellent performance.
B+ 77-79 Very good.                       
B 73-76 Good.                
B- 70-72 Solid.
C+ 65-69 Satisfactory.                      
C 60-64 Minimally satisfactory.
D  50-59 Marginal performance.  
F   0-49       Unsatisfactory performance.  

How to succeed

  • Attend classes;
  • Most important: Work on the assignments by yourself.  If you can't solve a problem, talk to your classmates, or attend the office hour.  However, it is extremely important that you attempt to solve the problem by yourself first. Experience shows that students who copy solutions from others usually perform very poorly in the exams and fail the course.
  • Common mistake: Some students do not study/review the lecture notes or book before attempting the assignments. Instead, they "pick" the notes trying to find the material needed to solve a particular problem. Such method does not work because it leads to fragmented knowledge; the student does not understand the connection between the topics. Moreover, studying that way does not prepare for the exam, because there will be no book or notes to "pick" during the exam. 
  • Suggestion on how to study: Do a subject review before attempting the assignment, by reading the lecture notes/book. Start by reading the assignment fully, and then attempt the problem that appears to be easier (it is okay to briefly go back to the book or notes during the assignment).
  • Solve extra problems to practice for the exams.