FY546: Advanced Mechanics and Relativity Theory
Comment
Entry requirements
Academic preconditions
Course introduction
- Give the competence to handle complex problems and independently take part in interdisciplinary work and identify needs for and structure of own learning.
- Give skills to apply physical principles and mathematical tools to formulate and evaluate physical models.
- Give knowledge and understanding of the behavior of discrete particles and contiunous matter.
Applications:
The study of classical mechanics in general, and fluid dynamics in particular, is crucial for our ability to sustainably take advantage of the earth's energy resources using e.g. hydroelectric dams and wind mills. In these two cases we may regard water and air respectively as the driving fluid of the machine, and the motion of the fluid (and thus the extracted energy) is governed by the Navier-Stokes equation which is a primary focus of the second part of the course.
Expected learning outcome
- Apply the mathematical formalism of classical physics, special relativity and fluid mechanics to formulate and solve physical problems. The course theme is thus to apply Newton’s laws of motion under more general circumstances than point mechanics.
Content
- Special relativity: Michelson’s experiment, the Lorentz transformation, relativistic kinematics and dynamics.
- Central conservative force fields: Kepler’s laws and the solar system, Rutherford scattering and atomic and subatomic phenomena.
- Accelerated coordinate frames: Fictive forces, the Foucault pendulum.
- Lagrangian mechanics: Lagrange and Hamilton equations.
- Particles and rigid bodies: Energy, momentum, angular momentum; center of gravity and moment of inertia.
- Continuum physics: Deformation of solids, sound in gases, liquids and solids, ideal and viscous fluids.
Literature
J.M. Knudsen and P.H. Hjorth: Elements of Newtonian Mechanics, Springer.
B. Lautrup: Physics of Continuous Matter, Second Edition: Exotic and Everyday Phenomena in the Macro-scopic World, CRC Press
See Blackboard for syllabus lists and additional literature references.
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
Tests
Mandatory homework assignments
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Additional information
The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.
Exam element b)
Timing
Tests
Written exam
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Examination aids
ECTS value
Additional information
The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
- Intro phase: 54 hours
Skills training phase: 36 hours, hereof:
- Tutorials: 36 hours
The teaching format is lectures and computational classes (eksaminatorietimer). In the computational classes the students solve problems and are trained in applying the theory taught in the course to explicit physical problems within the course topics. Each week the lectures are followed by computational classes.