Physics 503 Fall 2008
"Mechanics"

Textbook: K.R. Symon, "Mechanics", 3rd ed.

Contact Information   |  Goals and Prerequisites   |  Requirements and Grading

Contact Information

• Lecturer: Prof. Fred Myhrer; office PSC 707
• Office hours:
  • Come to my office any time, or make an appointment by:
  • Calling 777-2087 or 777-8104 or
  • via email: myhrer@sc.edu
• Lectures and Recitations :
  • MWF 11:15 AM to 12:05 PM in PSC 201
  •   M 1:25 PM to 2:15 PM in PSC 205

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Goals

At the end of the course, PHYS 503, the students will be able to:
• solve the differential equation for the simple harmonic oscillator,
  
• find the solutions to the damped harmonic oscillator,
• handle the resonance phenomena of the forced harmonic oscillator,
• solve the Kepler problem,
• display the trajectories of hyperbolic orbits,
• find the Lagrangian of a simple system,
• solve the equation of motion for a simple system.
  

Prerequisites

PHYS 211 and 212 or equivalent with a grade of C or better, or the written permission of the instructor.

Requirements and Grading

• REQUIREMENTS:
  • Quizzes -- In class roughly bi-weekly
  • Homework assignments handed in on time.
  • One test:
    • Mid to late October (date to be announced in class)
      
  • Final Exam (Comprehensive),
• GRADING:
  • Your overall score will be calculated as follows:
    • Homework: 10%
    • Quizzes: 20%
    • Test: 30%
    • Final Exam: 40%
  • Calculators cannot be used during exams and quizzes.
  • Exams will be based on the material discussed in class, homeword assignments, quizzes, and any assigned problems and/or readings.
  • You may obtain help in solving homework assignments.
  • Graduate students will be given more challenging homework problems and an extra problem on the test and/or the final exam.
• GRADING SCALE:
  • A:88-100   B:76-87   C:63-75   D:50-62.

Academic Responsibility

All work submitted by the student must be his/her own and must comply with the rules stated on this sheet. Please refer to Carolina Community for further information concerning the Code of Student Academic Responsibility.

Please, turn cell-phones off during class.

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