Nov 23, 2024  
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PHYS024A HM - Mechanics & Wave Motion

Credit(s): 3

Instructor(s): Saeta

Offered: Spring

Description: An advanced college-level introduction to Newtonian mechanics for students who demonstrate on a placement examination that they have solid mechanics problem-solving skills. Starting from the mathematics of vectors in both Cartesian and polar coordinates, Newton’s laws of motion are applied to a variety of systems involving point and extended particles, contact forces, friction, drag, springs, gravity, and models of interatomic and intermolecular forces. Angular momentum is developed for individual particles and systems of particles, including rigid bodies, whose combined rotational and translational motion are analyzed. Ideas of wave propagation and interference are developed for sound and strings under tension. A computational approach to solving mechanics problems is developed in parallel using Python and Jupyter notebooks, leading to team projects exploring the behavior of a variety of systems, including those of students’ own choosing.