Broadly the MT lectures will concentrate on motion in
one spatial dimension. The lectures in HT will extend the treatment to motion in
two and three dimensions (including motion under an inverse square law) and
will cover angular motion (including moments of inertia of rigid bodies).
The lecture topics are listed roughly in the order in
which they will be covered.
1.
Introduction.
Classical Mechanics in physics: scope and limitations.
3.
1-D elastic
collisions & inelastic collisions.
4.
Galilean
Transformations: the centre of mass (CM) and ėlaboratoryķ frames of reference.
5.
Potential
energy. Work. Forces derivable from a potential. The total energy as a constant
of the motion. Conservative forces. SHM around a point of stable equilibrium.
6.
Inertial
& non-inertial frames, 'fictitious' forces. The lift as an example of an
accelerating frame and qualitative discussion of rotating frames of reference.
7.
Non-conservative
forces. Resisted motion, limiting velocity and other features. Simple
projectile motion in 2D
8.
Variable mass
(rockets and other examples).
Two sets of problems on the above topics are provided
for use in college classes and tutorials. In addition there is a preliminary
set of problems based on A/L work.
1.
Revision on
required properties of time dependent vectors. Vector formulation of
2.
More on projectile
motion under gravity. Other examples of motion in more than one dimension ń
charged particles in electric and magnetic fields.
3.
Conservation
laws again. Motion of an interacting group of particles. Separation of motion
into that of centre of mass and relative motion. Importance of the CM frame.
Collision problems in 2-D.
4.
Angular
momentum of a group of particles and conservation of angular momentum.
Extension to a rigid body and concept of Moment of Inertia. Torque.
5.
Calculation
of MoI for simple geometries. Perpendicular and parallel axes theorems.
6.
Equations of
motion for rigid body about a fixed axis. Compound pendulum.
7.
Motion in 2-D
under central forces (r2 and 1/r2). Equations of motion
in plane polar coordinates. Conservation of energy and angular momentum.
8.
Classification
of motion into open and closed orbits. Application to Newtonian gravitation and
Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
9.
Use of impact
parameter and conservation laws. Distance of closest approach and Rutherford
scattering.
A total of 11 lecture slots have been scheduled for
the HT lectures. The basic material will be covered in roughly 9 of these and the
remaining time used either to elaborate ideas with demonstrations or worked
examples, but spread throughout the term.
There are three sets of problems for college use on
the HT material.