Course description: This course will present an introduction to advanced classical mechanics. Familiarity with the material at the level of an upper-division course in mechanics or dynamics is assumed.
Textbooks: Mechanics (Vol. 1, Third Edition), L.D. Landau and E.M. Lifshitz, Butterworth-Heinemann, ISBN: 0750628960
Homework: Late homework will not be accepted. Homework solutions will be posted on this site. The curve for homework is: 85% or better is an A; 70% or better is a B; below 70% is a C.
Computers: You are encouraged to use symbolic manipulators to assist you with your homework as long as your solution displays a coherent, logical train of thought. In other words, your solution should contain enough intermediate steps as to be easily checked by hand.
Exams: There will be two midterm exams plus a final exam. Each exam will be based on problems similar to those assigned as homework. Final exam will be cumulative. Details will be posted a week prior to each exam.
Grades: Towards the final grade, homework counts 35%; each midterm counts 20%; and the final counts 25%.
| Lecture | Topics | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | xx | 1/26 |
| 2 | xx | 1/31 |
| 3 | xx | 2/2 |
| 4 | xx | 2/7 |
| 5 | xx | 2/9 |
| 6 | xx | 2/14 |
| 7 | xx | 2/16 |
| 8 | xx | 2/21 |
| 9 | xx | 2/23 |
| 10 | xx | 2/28 |
| 11 | xx | 3/1 |
| 12 | xx | 3/6 |
| 13 | xx | 3/8 |
| 14 | xx | 3/13 |
| 15 | xx | 3/15 |
| 16 | xx | 3/20 |
| 17 | xx | 3/22 |
| - | Thanksgiving | - |
| 18 | xx | 4/3 |
| 19 | xx | 4/5 |
| 20 | xx | 4/10 |
| 21 | xx | 4/12 |
| 22 | xx | 4/17 |
| 23 | xx | 4/19 |
| 24 | xx | 4/24 |
| 25 | xx | 4/26 |
| 26 | xx | 5/1 |
| 27 | xx | 5/3 |
| 28 | xx | 5/8 |
| 29 | xx | 5/10 |
| 30 | xx | 5/15 |
Ethics: Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University's integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct
Plagiarism is the use of someone else's language, images, data, or ideas without proper attribution. It is a very serious offense in both academic and professional environments. In essence, plagiarism is both theft and lying: you have stolen someone else's ideas, and then lied by implying that they are your own.
Learning when to cite a source, and when not to, is an art, not a science. However, here are some examples of plagiarism that you should be careful to avoid:
o If you use a sentence (or even a part of a sentence) that someone else wrote and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If you paraphrase somebody else's theory or idea and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If you use a picture or table from a web page or book and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If your paper incorporates data someone else has collected and you do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
The SJSU library has a tutorial that explains how to identify and avoid plagiarism, available at: http://tutorials.sjlibrary.org/plagiarism/index.htm.
Disabilities: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with DRC to establish a record of their disability.
Emergencies: If you hear a continuous alarm or are told to evacuate the building, walk quickly to the nearest stairway at the end of each hall. Do not use the elevator. Take your personal belongings with you. Be quiet and follow instructions. Move away from the building and do not return until informed by police or coordinators.
Send comments to: algarcia@algarcia.org