FY556: Newtonian Mechanics and Relativity Theory

The Study Board for Science

Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher, but English if international students are enrolled
EKA: N500060102
Assessment: Second examiner: External
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Bachelor

STADS ID (UVA): N500060101
ECTS value: 5

Date of Approval: 07-03-2025


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Archive

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, Mechanics and thermodynamics (FT500) / (old curriculum: Fundamentals of physics (FY529)).

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 gives an academic basis for studying the topics in the future physics courses that are part of the degree.

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

Classical Mechanics by John R. Taylor

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 - Name

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

5

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

Planned lessons: 

Total number of planned lessons: 45

Hereof: 

Common lessons in classroom/auditorium 45 

The teaching format is lectures and computational classes (tutorials). 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 contain introductory problem solving are followed by computational classes.

Other planned teaching activities: 

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

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Sofie Marie Koksbang koksbang@cp3.sdu.dk Institut for Fysik, Kemi og Farmaci

Additional teachers

Name E-mail Department City
Eike Ravensburg ravensburg@cp3.sdu.dk Institut for Fysik, Kemi og Farmaci

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Fysik, kemi og Farmaci

Team at 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.