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Wake Forest University


PHYSICS 337/637
Analytical Mechanics

DaVinciTopics of the Course

  • This course will provide a mathematical introduction of to variational methods of mechanics (Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations) and the geometries of global behaviors. While the course is high theoretical, there will be some focus on basic probelm solving skills using advanced formalism. The 639 section will extend the formalism of mechanisms to continuum systems through extra reading assignments.

This course runs 1/2 a semester and is evaluated midterm.


Course Materials


text

Text is Marion and Thornton 4th edition. Most of this course is based on Chapters 6 and 7 of this text.

 


No Class Meeting

There will be no class on the following dates:




 


Syllabus

This course runs until midsemester (October) only.

I.    Variational Calculus

II.   The Lagrangian

Exam 1

III.  The Hamiltonian

Exam 2

IV.  The Lagrangian Density

V.    The Continuum

Exam 3


Office Hours

Tuesday and Thursday

10:00 - 11:00 or by appointment


214 Olin Physical Laboratory
Reynolda Campus
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem NC 27109

ph: 336 727 1806
email: carroldl@wfu.edu