printer friendly pagePHYSICS 61: Mechanics and Special Relativity
(First in a three-part series:
PHYSICS 61,
PHYSICS 71,
PHYSICS 81.) This course covers Einstein's special theory of relativity and Newtonian mechanics at a level appropriate for students with a strong high school mathematics and physics background, who are contemplating a major in Physics or Engineering Physics or are interested in a rigorous treatment of physics. Postulates of special relativity, simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction, the Lorentz transformation, the space-time invariant, causality, relativistic momentum and energy, and invariant mass. Central forces, friction, contact forces, linear restoring forces. Momentum, work, energy, collisions. Angular momentum, torque, center of mass, moment of inertia, precession. Conserved quantities. Uses the language of vectors and multivariable calculus. Requirements to enroll in the course: Completion of Physics Placement Diagnostic and/or completion of at least one course in PHYSICS 20 or 40 series. Completion of or co-enrollment in
MATH 51 or
MATH 61CM or
MATH 61DM. Prerequisites: mechanics at the level of
PHYSICS 41 or score of 5 on AP Physics C Mechanics or equivalent; calculus at the level of
MATH 21 or score of 5 on AP Calculus BC or equivalent.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER: DB-NatSci, WAY-FR, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Burchat, P. (PI)
;
Dimov, R. (TA)
;
Liu, F. (TA)
;
Loh, M. (TA)
;
Periwal, A. (TA)
;
Wendt, D. (TA)
PHYSICS 61L: Mechanics Laboratory
Introduction to laboratory techniques, experiment design, data collection and analysis simulations, and correlating observations with theory. Labs emphasize discovery with open-ended questions and hands-on exploration of concepts developed in
PHYSICS 61 including Newton's laws, conservation laws, and rocket motion. Pre-or corequisite
PHYSICS 61.This course was offered as
PHYSICS 62 prior to Academic Year 2022-2023.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 1
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