Instructor: Jan Fiala, Room 216, jfiala@physics.clarku.edu
Office Hours: by appointment (preferably e-mail first)
Office Phone: 508-793-7759

Prerequisites: PHYS 160 and 161.

Class Times: Class meets on Monday (at WPI) 11:00 am -11:50 am  OH 214

                                     Wednesday (at Clark) 10:45 am - 12:00 pm BP-220

                                              Friday (at WPI) 10:45 am - 12:00 am OH 214

Required Textbook:  Classical Mechanics (3rd Edition), Herbert Goldstein, Charles P. Poole, John L. Safko

! The textbook is available at the Clark University bookstore.!

This book has a number of errors, and you should check the author's website http://astro.physics.sc.edu/goldstein/ for a list of the corrections.

If you feel that the textbook does not provide an adequate discussion of a particular topic, there are many other books which you may find provide a clearer discussion. Many excellent choices are given in the selected bibliography on page 617 of the textbook.

Recommended reading:

2) V. I. Arnold, A. Weinstein, K. Vogtmann "Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics     ISBN: 0387968903

3) G. Weinreich "Geometrical vectors"                                                                                      ISBN: 0226890481

4) Vernon D. Barger, Martin G. Olsson "Classical Mechanics: A modern Perspective"               ISBN: 0070037345

5) David Morin, "Introductory Classical Mechanics, with Problems and Solutions"

Group Theory in Physics:

1) J. F. Cornwell, "Group Theory in Physics: An Introduction"                                                   ISBN: 0121898008

2) H. F. Jones, "Groups, Representaions, and Physics"                                                              ISBN: 0750305045

Here you can start right away: Course by Dimitry Vvedensky

Catalog description

Outline of Course

Chapters 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10 will be carefully discussed in class. From Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 will be selected a certain topics and homework problems.

Student Evaluation

1. Weekly problem sets (30% total). Late problem sets will be accepted only if students receive permission from the instructor prior to the due date of the assignment. Students are encouraged to collaborate on the homework, but need to complete their own work.  All of the problems must be turned in on paper or in LaTex.
   For both homeworks and exam, solutions should include intermediate steps. If you just write down the answer, even if it is correct, you will not get full credit. Also, don't fall into the trap of just writing down equations; you should always include sentences, as needed, describing what you are doing.
2. 2x test (20%) and final exams (30%)
3. Class participation and individual initiative. This can raise or lower your grade a notch, i.e. from an A- to a B+, or from an A- to an A. Prompt class attendance is required. Pop quizzes will be given at the beginning of classes.

Acknowledgments
You are encouraged to collaborate and seek help from other students to do the homework, but the final write-up should be your own. If you obtain help, you should acknowledge it. Such acknowledgments will not lower your grade.

HW : 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Midterm test: solution

Final test

Other solved problems and additional short reading.

Comments and suggestions: Go to the following website and click on contact. Than you can type arbitrary email address and your suggestions or any ideas you would like to anonymously send.

LaTex for PC: MiKTeX (compiler and packages), TeXShell (editor)

LaTex for MAC: Use teTex and TexShop: you can start here.

Andy have found nice and quick reference to LaTex: Getting Started with LaTeX

By David R. Wilkins
2nd Edition
Copyright David R. Wilkins 1995                     

 Physics Dept