Classical mechanics ii

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1 hour / session

Recitations: 1 session / week, 1 hour / session

8.01 Physics I: Classical Mechanics and 18.02 Calculus II: Multivariable Calculus.

This course is a broad, theoretical treatment of classical mechanics, useful in its own right for treating complex dynamical problems, but essential to understanding the foundations of quantum mechanics and statistical physics.

Landau, Lev D., and Evgenij M. Lifshitz. Mechanics: Course of Theoretical Physics. Vol. 1. 3rd ed. Butterworth-Heinemann, 1976. ISBN: 9780750628969. [Preview with Google Books]

Thornton, Stephen T., and Jerry B. Marion. Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems. Cengage Learning India, 2012. ISBN: 9788131518472.

Goldstein, Herbert, John Safko, and Charles P. Poole. Classical Mechanics. Pearson, 2013. ISBN: 9781292026558.

There are 4 problem sets. Doing them is critical to getting the most of this class. Try them alone, then in a group, then ask an upperclassman, then email the Teaching Assistant.

The project problem should look impossible given only 8.01 Physics I, but will not be so bad by week 2 or 3! Do it alone (without help from the internet) whenever you like. Turn it in with the last problem set or earlier for bonus credit).

Seventy percent of the class grade is based on the Assignments and 30% on the Project.

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