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Module Title LC Classical Mechanics and Relativity 1
SchoolPhysics and Astronomy
Department Physics & Astronomy
Module Code 03 19748
Module Lead Professor Alberto Vecchio
Level Certificate Level
Credits 10
Semester Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions All first year Physics programmes including BSc/MSci Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics and Natural Science students taking a Physics major.
Contact Hours Lecture-24 hours
Tutorial-11 hours
Guided independent study-65 hours
Total: 100 hours
Exclusions
Description This module explores Newton's laws and their implications both at fundamental and practical levels. It considers the dynamics of macroscopic objects subject to forces such as gravity, friction and the restoring force of a spring. The concepts of kinetic and potential energy, and work done by a force are discussed and applied to solve simple problems. The module further considers conservation of energy and linear momentum. Finally, we introduce the main conceptual aspects of special relativity.
Learning Outcomes By the end of the module the student should be able to:
  • Appreciate the fundamentals of classical mechanics and special relativity.
  • Apply Newton's laws to simple problems in mechanics.
  • Derive the equation of motion of macroscopic objects moving under the influence of gravity in simple physical situations.
  • Apply conservation of energy and the work done by a force to quantitatively describe the motion of a body.
  • Describe quantitatively simple harmonic motion and extend the discussion to include damping and periodic driving forces.
  • Solve simple problems involving collisions through the application of conservation of linear momentum.
  • Apply the key concepts of special relativity to evaluate how space and time intervals differ depending on the observer.
Assessment 19748-01 : Exam mark (linked to QM/OW) : Exam (Centrally Timetabled) - Written Unseen (80%)
19748-03 : Assessed problems : Coursework (20%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions Coursework (20%); 1.5 hour Examination (80%) - jointly assessed with 03 19718 LC Quantum Mechanics and Optics & Waves
Other None
Reading List