PHY4116

From Newton to Einstein

Module Organiser: Prof David Dunstan

Office Hour: Thursday 10:00 - 11:00

General

The aim of this course is to provide a basic understanding of the laws of space, time and motion, beginning with the ideas of Classical Mechanics and ending with those of Special and General Relativity.

Assessment

2.5 hour examination during the Examination Period (80%)

Weekly coursework and mid-term exam (20%). The mid-term test will be held in the 11:00-12:00 lecture slot on Thursday 17 November.

Recommended book:

Young, H.D. and Freedman, R.A. et al
University Physics With Modern Physics
Longman HE, (12th edition, 2007)
ISBN: 9780321501219 / 080532187X

Learning Outcomes

    Apply the conservation laws of energy, momentum and angular momentum to calculate particle kinematics and dynamics in systems with translational and rotational symmetry.

    Relate the Coriolis force with aspects of world weather and to comprehend the motion of a gyroscope.

    Predict the trajectory and perform simple calculations on circular and elliptical planetary orbits.

    Relate mechanical properties of matter to interatomic potentials.

    Deduce the Lorentz transformation in Special Relativity from basic principles and understand how time dilation and length contraction arise.

    Deduce and interpret E=mc2 and apply to simple mass-energy problems, for example in nuclear physics.

    Understand the relevance of the principle of equivalence in General Relativity.

    Explain some of the consequences of General Relativity, such as the curvature of space, black holes, gravitational lenses and gravitational time dilation.

Syllabus

Bodies, Gravity, Mechanical Properties, Revision, Introduction to Special Relativity, Time Dilation, Length Contraction, Relativistic Kinetics, General Relativity

Coursework

Coursework (weekly exercises) and mid-term test will contribute 20% to the final assessment of the module.

The mid-term test will be held in Week 8 (the week after Reading Week)

Weekly exercises will be posted on Wednesday. The collection time will be 4pm on the following Monday.

    Coursework Week 1 - Vectors

    Coursework Week 2 - Kinetics

    Coursework Week 3 - Dynamics

    Coursework Week 4 - Circular Motion

    Coursework Week 5 - Rigid Bodies

    Coursework Week 6 - Gravity

    Coursework Week 9 - Time Dilation

    Coursework Week 10 - Length Contraction

    Coursework Week 11 - Momentum and Energy

    Exams

Deadlines

The collection time for weekly coursework submission will be 4pm on Monday.

 

Exercise Classes

    Exercises Week 1 with Answers

    Exercises Week 2 with Answers

    Exercises Week 3 with Answers

    Exercises Week 4 with Answers

    Exercises Week 5 with Answers

    Exercises Week 6 with Answers

    Exercises Week 9 with Answers

    Exercises Week 10 with Answers

    Exercises Week 11 with Answers