UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

Physics 211

Department of Physics

Fall 2008

 

General Information

 

Title:

Mechanics, CRN 91795

 

Time:

MWF 10:10-11:00, A402 Cook.

 

Instructor:

K. Spartalian, A511 Cook.

Phone: 656-0047 (direct), 656-2644 (department).

email: Kevork.Spartalian(at)uvm.edu.

 

Office Hours:

Mon  Wed. 1:30 – 3:00 and Thu 1:00 - 2:00 or by appointment.

 

Textbook:

Classical Mechanics, First Edition (2005) by John R. Taylor (ISBN: 1-891389-22-X)

 

Topics:

The topics to be covered will include, but will not be limited to, Vector Algebra, Newtonian Dynamics, Oscillations, Gravitation, Calculus of Variations, Lagrangians, Hamilton's Principle, Central Forces, Systems of Particles, Motion in Non-Inertial Frames and Small Oscillations.

Homework:

A finite number of problems will be given and collected on a regular basis.  See Homework Procedures and Due Dates for details.

 

Exams:

Two mid-term exams and one final, equally weighted, will account for 30% of the course grade.  Homework will account for 55% and in-class performance will account for the final 15%.

 

Grade Thresholds:

Regardless of exam and in-class performance, students must have a homework grade of 50% or better to pass the course and a homework grade of 75% or better to qualify for a letter grade better than C+.

 

Attendance:

Attendance is mandatory.  Even though attendance will not be taken formally, in a class of 10 students (or fewer), one absence is 10% of the total (or higher) and is, therefore, highly noticeable.  By definition, students who do not attend show poor in-class performance.  You are allowed three absences, excused or unexcused, for the duration of the semester.  After that, an absence will reduce your in-class performance grade by a full letter grade per occurrence.

 

Prerequisites:

Working familiarity with basic material in a differential equations course and a linear algebra course is essential.  Students will be expected to preclude religious arguments from physical derivations, to use their minds constructively in order to justify their statements, and to abstain from Procrustean methods when developing physical proofs.