Physics 116 - Mechanics & Wave Motion

Spring
2013
01
4.00
Kannan Jagannathan, Larry Hunter

MWF 12:00PM-12:50PM

Amherst College
PHYS-116-01-1213S
MERR 2
kjagannathan@amherst.edu; lrhunter@amherst.edu

The course will begin with a description of the motion of particles and introduce Newton’s dynamical laws and a number of important force laws. We will apply these laws to a wide range of problems to gain a better understanding of them and to demonstrate the generality of the framework. The important concepts of work, mechanical energy, and linear and angular momentum will be introduced. The unifying idea of conservation laws will be discussed. The study of mechanical waves permits a natural transition from the dynamics of particles to the dynamics of waves, including the interference of waves. Additional topics may include fluid mechanics and rotational dynamics. Three hours of lecture and discussion and one three-hour laboratory per week.

Requisite: MATH 111. Fall semester:  Professor Hunter (lecture) Professors Hall and Loinaz (labs).  Spring semester. Professor Jagannathan.

Multiple required components--lab and/or discussion section. To register, submit requests for all components simultaneously.

You must take one section for each of the following coreqs : PHYS-116L

Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.