PHY 3221 Mechanics I
Spring 2008

Lectures:  Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12.50 p.m.

FINAL GRADES. CLICK HERE.
Notes on the final grades. I saw no reason to change the grading scale. The number of A's was a little disappointing, but the number of B+'s made up for it. I thoroughly checked those close to borderlines. I have not written up solutions to the final, but I have some information (click HERE. ) telling you what people generally did and not do well. I did not predict exactly which questions people would get right, (or who would get them right) but overall the average was as expected. It was a gruelling test, and you all earned your grades!
Classroom: 1011 New Physics Building

Lecturer:  Prof. John Yelton
yelton@phys.ufl.edu, 
2031 New Physics Building
392-8475
Office Hours Wed. & Fri, 3rd period 9:35-10:25

Text:  S.Thornton and J.Marion, "Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems", 5th edition.
The textbook is obligatory as homework will often be set using it. There is a student solutions manual which gives solutions to some of the problems in the book, and that is optional.
Homework, due 1/23 class time (yes, really it is).
Homework, due 2/01 class time (again, I changed due date).
Homework, due 2/13 class time.
Homework, due 2/22 class time.
Homework, due 3/7 class time.
Homework, due 3/24 class time, extended by popular demand till 3/26.
Homework, due 4/4 class time.
Homework, due 4/14 class time.
Homework, due 4/18 class time.
Prerequisites: Introductory physics with calculus (PHY 2048 or equivalent). The further you are in the calculus sequence (Calc I-III and Differential Equations), the better.

Synopsis: This is the first of a two-semester sequence on classical mechanics. We will cover Chapters 1-3 and 5 of Thornton and Marion, with supplemental material from time to time. Topics include: vectors and matrices, kinematics, Newtonian mechanics, conservation laws, oscillations, dimensional analysis and gravitation.

Grading Policy: There will be homework, posted on the web (either from the book or elsewhere). This is due at class time on whatever day it is due. Solutions should be complete and legible. Late homework will be accepted but will have points deducted. Homework constitutes 25% of the grade. Three tests, in class, will each constitute 15% of the grade. The final is 30% of the grade. The tests and final will be "open notes". That is anything in your handwriting is allowed. Calculators are also allowed, but beware that I will expect to see working on problems (such as multiplication of matrices).
A guaranteed grading scale has been announced. C(50%), B(65%), A(80%).

Calender of Events
Please do not print this out! It will likely changes as the semester progresses, depending on how long we take on each subject, how well people do in tests, etc. The test dates are also preliminary.

1/7 : First lecture Introduction
1/9: Lecture 2 Chapter 1. Vectors
1/11: Lecture 3 Rotation of Coordinates
1/14 Lecture 4 Rotation Matrices
1/16: Lecture 5 Dot Products
1/18: Lecture 6 Cross Product, Levi-Civita density.
1/21 NO CLASS!
1/23: Lecture 7 Acceleration in polar coordinates.
1/25: Lecture 8 Grads, Divs, Curls, Vector Integrations
1/28: Lecture 9 Grads, Divs, Curls etc.
1/30: Lecture 10 Newton's Laws
2/1: Lecture 10a, Retarding forces etc. Discussion of material for Test #1
2/4: Test #1. All material from Chapter 1.
2/6: Lecture 11 Velocity dependent forces
2/8 Lecture 12 Vertical motion including retarding forces.
2/11 Lecture 13 Projectiles
2/13: Lecture 14 Work-Energy Theorem
2/15: Lecture 15 Potential Energies
2/18 Lecture 16 Potential Energies
2/20: Lecture 17 Rocket Motion
2/22: Lecture 18 Dimensional homogeneity
2/25: Lecture 19 Dimensions examples
2/27: Lecture 20 Dimensions examples
2/29: Lecture 21 Chapter 3 - Introduction to Simple Harmonic Motion
3/3: Lecture 22 Rotational Inertias, Physical Pendula etc.
Some examples of previous presentations:
E. Melendrez's lecture on dimensional analysis
C. Cook's lecture on dimensional analysis
D. Bannoura's lecture on dimensional analysis
Prof. Alan Dorsey's note on dimensional analysis
3/5: Lecture 23 Student presentations
3/7: Lecture 24 Chapter 3 Lissajous patterns
3/10 SPRING BREAK
3/12 SPRING BREAK
3/14 SPRING BREAK
3/17 Discussion of Test/Presentations/Damped Harmonic Oscillator
3/19: Test #2
3/21: Lecture 25 Discussion of Test/ Presentations
3/24: Lecture 26 Damped Harmonic Oscillator
3/26: Lecture 27 Driven Harmonic Oscillator
3/28: Lecture 28 Driven Harmonic Oscillator
3/31: Lecture 29 Harmonic Oscillators
4/2: Lecture 30 Introduction to Fourier Series
4/4: Lecture 31 Newton's Law of Gravity
4/7: Lecture 32 Gravitational Fields
4/9: Lecture 33 Gravitational potential
4/11: Lecture 34 Gravitational potential
4/14: Lecture 35 Gravitational potential of a sphere
4/16 Lecture 36 Tides etc.
4/18 Review for test 3
4/21 Test #3
4/23 Review
4/28 MONDAY 7.30 a.m. is the scheduled final date. We can discuss if this time is "convenient" with everyone, but expect it to be on that day.
Hints on how to do well:
• Attend Class Remember, the syllabus is defined by what is covered in lectures. You will not be tested on material not covered in class. The book covers lots of material, not all of which you are expected to know. If you miss class, my advice is to ask a class-mate for notes. I am happy to explain things in office hours which you did not understand. I am not so happy to explain things that you have not seen because you were not in class and did not get anybody's notes..
• Be on time for class. Announcements are generally made at the beginning of each lecture, and you are responsible for learning of these whether you attend class or not.
  
• If you are struggling, ask for help. The best way to get hold of me is after class, in our assigned office hours, or by e-mail. It is tough to discuss physics by e-mail, so it is better to make questions specific. If you want to discuss physics and cannot make time during my office hours, I can be flexible, but check with me first.
  Take Notes Something that is obvious at the time is quickly forgotten. When it comes to the night before a test, you will appreciate a good set of lecture notes.

Do your own homework. I cannot police copying, but you will look foolish if you can do a homework question and then, when the same question comes up on the final, you have no idea how to approach it.