BSc Physics with Theoretical Physics / Course details

Dynamics

To introduce the fundamental concepts of Newtonian mechanics.

This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact.  Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates

On completion successful students will be able to explain the role of, and solve problems involving, the following concepts: 

1. frame of reference and its associated coordinate systems. 

2. Newton's laws and the motion of simple systems. 

3. energy, work, power, momentum, force, impulse, angular velocity, angular acceleration and torque. 

4. conservation of energy, momentum, and angular momentum. 

Furthermore, they will be able to solve problems involving: 

5. the rotation of rigid bodies. 

6. motion in a gravitational field.

1.  Linear Dynamics I

Differentiation of vectors, velocity and acceleration.

Inertial frames and Newton I.

2.  Linear Dynamics II

Newton II.

Equations of motion.

Impulse.

Forces.

Action at a distance.

3.  Linear Dynamics III

Momentum conservation and Newton III.

Applications of Newtonian mechanics.

4.  Linear Dynamics IV

Conservation principles in physics.

Kinetic energy and work.

Potential energy.

Conservative forces.

5.  Rotational Motion I

Torque, vector product, rotation of coordinate axes and angular momentum.

Polar coordinates.

6.  Conservation laws and isolated systems

Conservation of linear momentum.

Internal forces for a collection of particles.

Centre of mass.

7.  Angular momentum

Angular momentum and Newton II.

Conservation of angular momentum.

8.  Rotational motion II

Equation of motion; kinetic energy, angular momentum, moments of inertia, gyroscopes and precession.

9.  Gravitation

Newton’s Law of Gravitation

Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion

Gravitational Potential Energy

Escape velocity

Satellites

Spherical mass distributions

Tidal forces

Feedback will be offered by tutors on students’ written solutions to weekly examples sheets, and model answers will be issued.

Compulsory Text book

Young, H.D. & Freedman, R.A. University Physics (Addison-Wesley)

Recommended texts

Forshaw, J.R. & Smith, A.G. Dynamics & Relativity (Wiley)

French, A.P. Newtonian Mechanics (Norton)

Halliday, D., Resnick, R. & Walker, J. Fundamentals of Physics (Wiley)

Kleppner, D. & Kolenkow, R. An Introduction to Mechanics (McGraw-Hill)

Tipler, P.A., Physics for Scientists and Engineers (W.H. Freeman and company)

Supplementary maths text

Tinker, M. & Lambourne, R. Further Mathematics for the Physical Sciences (Wiley)