This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

Readings

Goldstein, Herbert. Classical Mechanics. 3rd ed. San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley, 2002. ISBN: 0201316110.

Buy at Amazon Marion, Jerry B., and Stephen T. Thornton. Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems . 4th ed. Fort Worth, TX: Saunders College Pub., 1995. ISBN: 9780030973024.


 

SES # TOPICS READINGS
1 Review of Newtonian Mechanics

Refresh your mechanics knowledge by reading from your favorite book. For example the book by Marion and Thornton is very helpful. Goldstein is a bit too dry for this initial "Newtonian Mechanics Refresher."
2 Calculus of Variation Refresh your mechanics knowledge by reading from your favorite Mechanics book.
3 Lagrangian and Hamilton Principle Goldstein. Sections 1.1-1.2 and 2.1-2.5.
4 Lagrangian with Constraints Goldstein. Sections 1.1-1.2 and 2.1-2.5.
5 Generalized Coordinates and Principle of Virtual Work Goldstein. Sections 1.3, 1.4, 2.4, 2.6, and 2.7.
6 Conserved Quantities, Hamiltonian Goldstein. Sections 8.1 and 8.2.
7 Noether's Theorem, Canonical Equations and Phase Space Goldstein. Sections 8.1 and 8.2.
8 Quiz 1 Goldstein. Sections 8.1 and 8.2.
9 Canonical Transformation I Goldstein. Sections 9.1-9.3, 9.6, and 9.7.
10 Canonical Transformation II Goldstein. Sections 9.1-9.3, 9.6, and 9.7.
11 Kepler Problem, Orbits Goldstein. Sections 3.1-3.3.
12 Elastic Collisions Goldstein. Sections 3.1-3.3.
13 Inelastic Scattering

Goldstein. Sections 3.10-3.11.

Marion and Thornton. Sections 9.6-9.10.
14 Rutherford Scattering

Goldstein. Section 3.10-3.11.

Marion and Thornton. Sections 9.6-9.10.
15 Non-inertial Frames

Goldstein. Sections 3.10-3.11.

Marion and Thornton. Sections 9.6-9.10.
16 Lagrangian for Rigid Bodies, Inertia, Symmetric Top

Goldstein. Sections 4.9, 4.10, 5.3, and 5.4.

Marion and Thornton. Chapter 10.
17 Angular Momentum, Free Top Goldstein. Chapter 5.
18 Quiz Review Goldstein. Chapter 5.
19 Quiz 2 Goldstein. Chapter 5.
20 Euler Angles, Equation of Motion Goldstein. Chapter 5.
21 Lagrangian for a Continuous System Goldstein. Chapter 5.
22 Solids and Fluids Goldstein. Sections 1.5, 8.5, and Chapter 13.
23 Velocity Dependent Potentials Goldstein. Sections 1.5, 8.5, and Chapter 13.
24 Relativistic Lagrangian, Maxwell Equations Goldstein. Sections 1.5, 8.5, and Chapter 13.
25 Conserved Quantities in Field Theory, Energy-stress Tensor Goldstein. Sections 1.5, 8.5, and Chapter 13.
26 Relativistic Lagrangian, Covariant Formulation, Outlook and Review Goldstein. Sections 1.5, 8.5, and Chapter 13.