Physics 103, Intermediate Mechanics, Spring 2023

Instructor: David Stuart, [email protected], Broida 5113.
Office Hours: M and W 1:00 - 2:00 PM
You are also free to stop by any time. If I am free then, I'd be happy to talk, or we can set up a time.
Discussion sections: F 3-4PM in Phelps-2514 and F 4-5PM in Phelps-1445
Teaching Assistant: Rushikesh Patil ([email protected])
TA Office Hours: Mon 3:30-6:0
LA Office Hours: Mon 11-12, Thur 3-4
Textbook: Classical Mechanics, by John R. Taylor. We will cover chapters 1-5 and 15. The same textbook will (likely) be used later in Phys104.

Grades

• Homework (25% of grade): One problem set will be assigned per week. The assignment will typically be available on Sunday evenings and will be due the following Monday (8 days later) at 9 AM in Canvas. Your solutions should be neat and thoroughly explained.

• Discussion sections (5% extra credit): The discussion sections are an important part of understanding the material and of learning how to properly solve problems. During these sections, we will help you solve sample problems. You should turn in your work on the sample problems at the end of each discussion section to receive 0.5% extra credit per day, up to 5% total.

• Midterm Exam (25% of grade): There will be one midterm exam on Monday, April 24th.

• Final Exam (50% of final grade): The final will cover the entire course.

• Grading Policy: Your course grade will be calculated from these items with letter grade cutoffs no higher than the following: 90% = A-, 80% = B-, 70% = C-, 60% = D-.

How to do well

It is important that you read the textbook before class. In the lecture, I will explain the material and its context and do some examples. You will get more out of the lectures if you are already familiar with the subject from reading the text beforehand. After we have covered the material in class, you should study the textbook on your own. Then work example problems on your own and discuss the concepts with classmates. The homework and discussion sessions will help with that, but you should do more problems and discussion on your own as well. I will put my lecture notes on Canvas. They will include everything I write on the board, so don't worry about writing down every detail during class. Rather, focus on understanding. I suggest that you write your own notes explaining the material to yourself as part of your studying after each class. I allow handwritten note sheets on exams, you can prepare them as you go as a way to summarize things for better understanding.

Attend the discussion sections and participate. Come to my office hours and talk to the TAs for help, not just to complete the homework but to deeply understand the material. Do not hesitate to seek help.

Tentative Schedule

Use this schedule to read in advance of the lectures. It may change; check the web page for updates.

Date	Topic	Reading Assignment
Monday 4/3	Intro, Vectors, Transformation matrices, Coordinates	1.1-1.2, 1.7
Wednesday 4/5	Newton's laws, Projectiles	1.3-1.6, 2.1-2.2
Monday 4/10	Projectiles and air resistance	2.3-2.4
Wednesday 4/12	Projectiles and air resistance, complex exponentials	2.5-2.7
Monday 4/17	Center of mass	3.1-3.3
Wednesay 4/19	Momentum and the rocket equation	3.4 - 3.5
Monday 4/24	Midterm exam	Ch 1 - 2
Wednesday 4/26	Angular momentum, Kinetic Energy and Work	4.4 - 4.8
Friday 4/28	Last day to drop course
Monday 5/1	Potential Energy, Conservative forces, Problem solving with energy	4.8 - 4.10
Wednesday 5/3	Oscillations	5.1-5.3
Monday 5/8	Damped and driven oscillations, resonance	5.4-5.6
Wednesday 5/10	Fourier series	5.7-5.8
Monday 5/15	Relativity	15.1-15.3
Wednesday 5/17	Relativity	15.4-15.6
Monday 5/22	Relativity	15.7-15.10
Wednesday 5/24	Relativity	15.11-15.17
Monday 5/29	Memorial day holiday
Wednesday 5/31	Relativity	15.11-15.17
Monday 6/5	Relativity	15.11-15.17
Wednesday 6/7	Review
Wednesday 6/14 8-11 AM	Final	All material