Physics 341 -  Classical Physics I: Particle Mechanics - Fall 21

Instructor

Renate Wackerbauer,
Office Location: REIC 106                                              Welcome !! and have a great semester !!
phone: 474-6108
e-mail: rawackerbauer@alaska.edu

Open Office hours Due to Covid19 there are no walk-in office hours unless the situation improves; discussions after class work well; meeting via zoom works; email is effective for straight-forward questions. additional recitation classes can be scheduled on request. 
Course Info Phys341, 4 credits
Prerequisites Phys220, 301; or permission of instructor.
Lectures MWF 2:15 to 3:15 am, T 1:15-2:15, REIC 203
Lectures are face to face
Due to the fluid situation with covid, the course modality can change throughout the semester. In the case of online course delivery, lectures would be offered synchronously (tablet with whiteboard), recorded, and uploaded into google classroom.
Noyes Lab Access to the Noyes Computer Lab (REIC 101) is provided to all students enrolled in a Physics course. Your polar express card lets you in.
Text Required text: 
Classical Mechanics by J.R. Taylor, University Science Books (1st edition, 2005)

Supplementary readings:

Classical dynamics of particles and systems, by Marion, Thornton, Brooks/Cole (1995) - many examples and pictures
Mechanics by K.R. Symon, Prentice Hall (3rd edition, 2001) - that's the book we have used before in phys311/312
Introduction to Classical Mechanics,  by A. Ayra, Prentice Hall (1998) - not as complete as symon, but more examples
Classical Mechanics,  by H. Goldstein, Addison-Wesley (2002) - for advanced reading, usually at graduate level

There are many books on introductory classical mechanics in the library that almost all cover the material presented in the lectures. Please explore them to see different approaches to our topics.

Course Content

Tentative course calendar

Newtonian mechanics, conserved mechanical quantities, motion of systems of particles, rigid body statics and dynamics, moving and accelerated coordinate systems, rigid body rotations, and Lagrangian mechanics.
Course Goals This course provides an introduction into the theoretical principles of classical mechanics. First we explore particle dynamics based on Newton's laws of motion. Then we discuss particle dynamics in terms of the Lagrangian concept, which is based on energy concepts.
Student Learning Outcomes Students learn,
--how to describe and solve problems in theoretical classical mechanics
--how to describe particle dynamics with Newton's and Lagrangian concepts
--to critically compare Newton's concept and Lagrange's concept for certain physical proble

Homework

homework

Homework (10 assignments, each counting 100pts) will be assigned weekly via "google classroom" and will be due by 2:00 pm on the following Friday, unless explicitely altered at the time of assignment. Late homework will not be accepted. Finished homework should be uploaded  as a pdf-file to "google classroom".
You can earn 100 bonus points in the homework by giving a 10min presentation to class on a topic related to class, for example the life of a classical physicist, an application of classical mechanics, experiments on classical mechanics, etc.
in case of issues with the homework link use: ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/wacker/CLASS/341.html
Examinations Two one-hour in-term examinations and a two hour final examination will be held during the semester. In-term exams will be held in the classroom. Upon request, an additional review class may be scheduled before each exam. The exams will be closed books and closed notes. No calculators, computers, or communication devices are allowed.
Exam 1 (in class) Friday, Oct 1
Taylor: approx. chapt. 1-5
Exam 2 (in class) Friday, Nov 5
Taylor: approx. chapt. 6-8, 13
Final Exam Wednesday, Dec 8, 1-3pm Taylor: approx. chapt. 1-10, 13, 14
Grading
The maximum score for each homework will be 100 points. A solution (homework, exam) that presents nothing more than a restatement of the problem will receive zero credit. Illegible work will not be graded. To pass the course with a grade higher than an "F", you need 40% of the total credits. Grades A to D are assigned equal weight for total credits between 40% and 100%. So, A+ (>97.5), A(>87.5), A-(>85), B+(>82.5), B(>72.5), B-(>70), C+(>67.5), C(>57.5), C-(>55), D+(>52.5), D(>42.5), D-(>40). If this class is in your major you need at least a grade C- for passing the course and fulfilling prerequisites. For the final grade, homework, exams, etc. will be weighted as follows:
Homework 20%
Exam 1 25%
Exam 2 25%
Final Exam 30%
Course policies Attendance at lectures is expected. Active class participation, questions are extremely welcome in the lectures. A missed exam will receive 0 credit unless the instructor is notified by email, phone, etc before the exam starts. Make-up exams will be individually scheduled with the student.

Your instructor follows the University of Alaska Fairbanks Incomplete Grade Policy: “The letter “I” (Incomplete) is a temporary grade used to indicate that the student has satisfactorily completed (C or better) the majority of work in a course but for personal reasons beyond the student’s control, such as sickness, has not been able to complete the course during the regular semester. Negligence or indifference are not acceptable reasons for an “I” grade.”
Student Obligations As students of UAF, you are bound by the policies and regulations of the University of Alaska, UAF rules and procedures, and the Student Honor Code. You are obligated to make yourselves familiar with all conditions presented in the UAF Catalog. Plagiarism on homework or on an exam will result in a failing grade.
Students should keep up-to-date on the university's policies, practices, and mandates related to COVID-19 by regularly checking this website:
Further, students are expected to adhere to the university's policies, practices, and mandates and are subject to disciplinary actions if they do not comply.

Student Protection and Services Statement
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