FY556: Newtonian Mechanics and Relativity Theory

Comment

The course is co-read with FY546 and runs in the 1st quarter.

Entry requirements

The course cannot be followed by students who have passed FY504 or FY546.

Academic preconditions

Students taking the course are expected to have knowledge of the content of FT500.

Course introduction

The aim of the course is to introduce the foundations and principles of Newtonian and relativistic physical phenomena. This will enable the students to model and describe single and multiple particle systems on different length scales. Finally, the students will also be trained to collaborate with peers and, in this way, they will strengthen computational skills, which is important in regard to all applications of physics.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the course Mechanics and thermodynamics (FT500) / (old curriculum: Fundamentals of physics (FY529)) and gives an academic basis for studying the topics in the future physics courses that are part of the degree.

Even before the introduction of Einstein's special theory of relativity, the study of motion in various reference frames poses surprisingly deep questions about the nature of space and the limits of the observable, thus going beyond physics itself and into science studies more broadly.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

Give the competence to handle complex problems and independently take part in interdisciplinary work and identify needs for and structure of own learning.
Give skills to apply physical principles and mathematical tools to formulate and evaluate physical models.
Give knowledge and understanding of the behavior of discrete particles in both the classical and relativistic regimes.

Expected learning outcome

The learning objectives of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

Apply the mathematical formalism of classical physics and special relativity to formulate and solve physical problems. The course theme is thus to apply Newton’s laws of motion under general circumstances and how these change at high velocity.

Content

The following main topics are contained in the course:

Special relativity: the Lorentz transformation, relativistic kinematics and dynamics.
Central conservative force fields: Kepler’s laws and the solar system, conservation theorems as foundational for physics.
Accelerated coordinate frames: Fictive forces, the Foucault pendulum.
Particles and rigid bodies: Energy, momentum, angular momentum; center of gravity and moment of inertia.

Literature

J.M. Knudsen and P.H. Hjorth: Elements of Newtonian Mechanics, Springer.

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

January

Tests

Written exam

EKA

N500060102

Assessment

Second examiner: External

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Duration

2 hours and 45 minuttes

Examination aids

All common aids are allowed e.g. books, notes and computer programmes which do not use internet etc.

Internet is not allowed during the exam. However, you may visit the course site in itslearning to open system "DE-Digital Exam". If you wish to use course materials from itslearning, you must download the materials to your computer no later thn day before the exam. During the exam you cannot be sure that all course materials is accessible in itslearning.

ECTS value

Additional information

The written exam in FY556 is the first half of the written exam in FY546. The exam must start at the same time as the exam in FY546.

Indicative number of lessons

45 hours per semester

Teaching Method

The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Intro phase: 27 hours
Skills training phase: 18 hours, hereof: tutorials: 18 hours

The teaching format is lectures and computational classes (eksaminatorietimer). In the computational classes the students solve problems and are trained in applying the theory taught in the course to explicit physical problems within the course topics. Furthermore, it is possible to hand in a number of optional assignments. Each week the lectures are followed by computational classes.

Activities in the study phase

Solving problems prior to the tutorials.
Self-study of the textbook.
Prepration for the exam.

Teacher responsible

Name	E-mail	Department
John H. Ipsen	ipsen@memphys.sdu.dk	Fysik

Timetable

Odense

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Administrative Unit

Fysik, kemi og Farmaci

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile	Education	Semester	Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study.

If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list.

See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.