Mechanics
PHY 6247 - Fall 2025
Syllabus
Homework problems:
HW 1: Due 9/4/2025
- Solution sketch
HW 2: Due 9/11/2025
- Solution sketch
HW 3: Due 9/18/2025
- Solution sketch
HW 4: Due 10/2/2025
- Solution sketch
HW 5: Due 10/16/2025
- Solution sketch
HW 6: Due 10/23/2025
- Solution sketch
HW 7: Due 11/11/2025
- Solution sketch
HW 8: Due 11/24/2025
- Solution sketch
HW 9: Due 12/1/2025
- Solution sketch
Note: The solution sketches posted here were not all written by me, and
are thus not necessarily error free.
Exams:
Exam 1: Thursday 9/25/2025 from 15:30-16:50 in class
The exam will cover Elementary Principles of Mechanics,
Variational Principles, Lagrange's Equations and Hamilton's Principle,
and Central forces,
i.e. Chap. 1, 2, and 3 in the book, and HW 1, 2, and 3.
Note: Students are allowed to bring one sheet of letter size paper
with handwritten notes on one side.
Exam 2: Tuesday 11/6/2025 from 15:30-16:50 in class
The main focus of the exam is on Rigid Bodies and Rotations,
and Hamilton's equations, i.e. Chap. 4, 5 and 8 in the book, and HW 4, 5, 6.
Note: Students are allowed to bring one sheet of letter size paper
with handwritten notes on one side.
Final Exam: Thursday 12/4/2025 from 13:15-15:45 in SE 319
The final exam is cumulative, but the main emphasis will be on
Hamilton's equations, Canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi equation,
and action and angle variable related issues
(Chap. 8-10 in Goldstein and HW 6, 7, 8, 9).
But do not forget things like Lagrangians.
Note: Students are allowed to bring one sheet of letter size paper
with handwritten notes on both sides.