Physics 2210: Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods I
Quick information
Lectures: |
Tu/Th 5-6:15 P.M. in Duane G125 |
Professor: |
Prof. Steven Pollock and Prof. Ana Maria Rey |
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SP: Duane F-1013 (10th floor of the Physics tower), (303) 492-2495 AMR: Jila S315 (5th floor of the JILA tower), (303) 492-7801 |
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steven.pollock at colorado.edu, arey at jilau1.colorado.edu |
Co-instructor: | Dr. Rachel Pepper Rachel Pepper at colorado.edu Duane F-1031 (10th floor of the Physics tower), (303) 492-6956 |
Learning Assistants | daniel.rehn at colorado.edu nicholas.kuon at colorado.edu |
Web page: |
http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phys2210 |
Office hrs: | Tentatively Tues 2-3 PM in in G2B86. This is the SW corner of the physics basement, straight back past the Help Room, all the way to the back, on your right) |
An abbreviated pdf version of the syllabus can be found here.
Introduction:
Physics 2210 is the first semester of our two-semester sequence of classical and mathematical physics, the foundation and building blocks of much of contemporary physics. We will build on concepts that you have been exposed to in Physics 1110, but with more mathematical sophistication. This course also serves as an important bridge to prepare you with the problem solving skills that you will need for junior and senior level classes. We will cover Newton's Law's (including position and velocity dependent forces), Conservation laws (Energy and Potential), non-inertial reference frames, oscillation (including harmonic oscillators, and questions of stability) heat and gravitation. Mathematically, we will focus on curvilinear coordinates, complex numbers, the gradient operator, Fourier series, and ordinary and partial differential equations. We have many learning goals in this course, which include content and mathematical skill mastery, high-level problem-solving skills, physical sense-making, deepened conceptual understanding, communication skills, and connection to other courses and to the real world
For more details about course goals (both broad, and chapter by chapter), please click here.
Required Prerequisites: You must have completed PHYS 2170 (or 2130), and Calc III (either MATH 2400/APPM 2350). You should have a strong working knowledge of algebra, trig, calculus, Phys 1110, and Phys 1120. A co-requisite is a linear algebra class (APPM 2360 or MATH 3130).
Required purchases:
1) John Taylor, Classical Mechanics (University Scence Books, 2005).
2) M. Boas, Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, (3rd ed, Wiley, 2006)
3) iClickers , available at the bookstore, will be used every lecture. (See web for details)
Note: here are textbook links (including errata) for Taylor, and Boas. (There will be copies of Taylor and Boas on reserve in the Math/Physics library, along with several other good texts.)
Finally - here is a link with suggestions for other texts, in case you decide you need/want a different perspective!
Reading is an essential part of 2210! Reading before class is very important. Lecture is to clarify your understanding, to help you make sense of the material. I will assume you have done the required readings in advance! Taylor is an excellent text - it will make a huge difference if you spend the time and effort to carefully read and follow the text. Boas will likely be a reference book you can use for the rest of your career.
Alternative Texts: See here for a discussion of good alternative texts.
Written homework: is due every Thursday at the start of class. Late homework can't be accepted (your lowest score will be dropped) Homework is crucial for developing an understanding of course material, not to mention building skills in physical and mathematical problem solving. They will require considerable time and personal effort this term!
Online homework ("preflights"): is due every Tuesday morning (10 AM). This will be much quicker (and lower stress) than the written homeworks, it may involve working through a derivation, or solving a puzzler to set up for the coming week's topic. It also gives you a chance to provide feedback and ask questions. It will be graded only on effort/participation, not on "correctness". (We will also have an "in-class participation" activity for everyone - see the web for details).
We strongly encourage collaboration, an essential skill in science and engineering (and highly valued by employers!) Social interactions are critical to scientists' success - most good ideas grow out of discussions with colleagues; essentially all physicists work as part of a group. Find partners and work together. However, it is also important that you OWN the material. Limit yourself to verbal help; don't take written information from others (not take written notes when you talk to others) This will ensure that you think things through independently after you get help. If you do well on homework and poorly on exams, you are probably getting too much help. In general, no credit will be given for a correct answer, unless accompanied by a complete and correct derivation. The point is not to find the answer, but to find out how to construct the answer. There will be time for peer discussion during classes: try to help your partners get over confusions, listen to them, ask each other questions, critique, teach each other. You will learn a lot this way!
CU Policies on Class Behaviour are here and here.
My primary rule of classroom etiquette is "be cool". It is perfectly OK to interrupt the lecture by yelling “Question!” Questions in lecture are always good, and are strongly encouraged!
Note: While collaboration is the rule in technical work, evaluations of individuals also play an important role. Exams will be done without help from others. For all assignments, the work you turn in must in the end be your own: in your own words, reflecting your own understanding.
Important: if you ever feel disadvantaged or isolated for any reason, contact us! We can discretely try to help arrange study groups.
Help Sessions: Help sessions/office hours are to facilitate learning. Please come - plan on working in small groups, our role will be as learning coaches. We will not explicitly show how to do the problems (how would that help you learn?) Start all problems on your own first. If you come to help sessions cold, the value of homework to you will be greatly reduced. If you wait until Wed to start, you're not giving yourself time to learn the problem-solving skills you need.
Grading and exams:Your course grade is largely determined by a combination of your performance on exams and homework. There will be some extra credit for in-class and online participation (which basically "unweights" the exams - see web for more details.)
Exam 1 | Feb 10 (Thurs) |
16% of course grade |
Exam 2 |
March 17 (Thurs) |
18% |
Final Exam |
Tu May 3, 7:30 - 10 PM |
30% |
Homework |
Due Thurs at start of class |
30% |
Preflights and participation | Due Tues (< 10 AM) | 6% |
Clickers and other online participation: These activities are pure extra credit: they REDUCE total midterm weights up to 10% of exam total (i.e. 7% of your grade) See the grade info page for details!
Exams: There are no makeups. You may not miss any exam except for reasons beyond your control, approved by Prof. Pollock or Rey (usually a confirmed medical problem with written documentation.)In the unusual case of an (at most, single) excused absence from midterms, I'll use an average of your other exams. You may bring one side of a single sheet of 8.5 in. x 11 in. paper for each exam, with your own handwritten notes. Calculators with scientific notation are allowed and sometimes needed. More details will be announced at the time of the midterm- see web (exams link)
Disabilities: Students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities, please let me know early in the semester (first two weeks) so that your academic needs may be appropriately met. You'll need to provide documentation to Disability Services Office in Willard 322 (303-492-8671), or www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices
Religious Observances: We will make a strong effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, please send an e-mail to me in the first week of classes if you anticipate a conflict. See campus policy here.
Discrimination and Sexual Harassment: The CU policies on Discrimination and Harassment, Sexual Harassment, or Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Anyone who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about campus resources available to assist you regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained here.
Honor Code: I trust every individual in this class to understand and follow the CU honor code. Please respect that trust! In return, I will strive to do my best to make the class valuable and worthy of your honorable behaviour! (The honor code at CU is really very cool, although the CU official wording about it is a little tough: Violations of the honor code may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion).
Important comment on expectations: Physics 2210 is a challenging, upper-division physics course. Unlike earlier courses, you are fully responsible for your own learning. Physics 2210 covers much material you have not seen before, at a higher level of conceptual and mathematical sophistication than you may have encountered in a physics class so far. Therefore you should expect:
YOU control the pace of the course by asking questions in class. We tend to speak quickly, and questions are important to slow down the lecture. This means that if you don’t understand something, it is your responsibility to ask questions. Attending class and the homework help sessions gives you an opportunity to ask questions. We are here to help you as much as possible, but we need your questions to know what you don’t understand.
Physics 2210 covers some of the most fundamental physics and mathematical methods in the field. Your reward for the hard work and effort will be learning important and elegant material that you will use over and over as a physics major (and beyond!) Here is what we have experienced:
How to succeed in this course: The topics in Phys 22210 are among the greatest intellectual achievements of humans. Don’t be surprised if you have to think and work hard to master this! You can perform very well in this class if you follow this time-tested system:
1. Read the text section before lecture. If you read it first, it’ll sink in faster during lecture.
2. Take detailed notes on your reading and write down questions so you can ask them in class.
3. Come to class and stay involved. Come to office hours with questions.
4. Start the homework early. Give yourself time to work and understand. No one is smart enough to do the homework in the last hour before class, and no one is smart enough to learn the material without working problems.
5. Work together. Do your own thinking, but talking to others is a great way to get unstuck.
6. Don’t get behind. It’s very hard to catch up.
Disclaimer: Announcements about changes of any kind to the syllabus will be made in class, and (usually) posted on the web, and will take precedence over this version. You are responsible for what is said in class, whether or not you are in attendance