Module Identifier |
MP21010 |
Module Title |
RELATIVITY & MECHANICS |
Academic Year |
2005/2006 |
Co-ordinator |
Dr Eleri Pryse |
Semester |
Semester 1 |
Other staff |
Professor Keith Birkinshaw, Dr Martin C Wilding |
Pre-Requisite |
Core Physics Modules at Level 1 or MP14010, MA11010 and MA11210 |
Course delivery |
Lecture | 20 x 1-hour lectures |
|
Seminars / Tutorials | 2 x 1-hour seminars/workshops/exercise classes; 2 x 1-hour tutorials |
Assessment |
Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
Semester Exam | 2 Hours written examination | 70% |
Semester Assessment | Course Work: 6 assignments Example Sheets. Deadlines are detailed in the Year 2 Example Sheet Schedule distributed by the Department
| 30% |
Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours written examination | 100% |
|
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Describe the basic principles of the special and general theories of relativity;
2. Solve problems in relativity by application of the basic principles and by the selection and use of appropriate mathematical techniques;
3. Provide mathematical models for problems on damped and forced oscillatory systems, simple coupled systems and rotating bodies, solve the resulting mathematical problems and interpret the results in the original physical context;
4. Apply Lagrange'r equations to simple physical systems.
Brief description
Classical mechanics has proved very successful in explaining and predicting the behaviour of bodies moving at low speeds but not at speeds approaching that of light, while relativity deals with the latter situations. This module develops the fundamental concepts and techniques of both of these theories, providing a sound mathematical basis in each case.
Aims
In this module, the classical theory of mechanics and the theory of relativity'roth fundamental to an understanding of modern physics'rre developed. This provides a more complex context in which the principles introduced in MP14010 are explored. The application of mathematics throughout this module ensures that it is also suitable as a core module for many honours degree schemes in Mathematics.
Content
RELATIVITY
Special theory
Lorentz transformation; relativistic interval; Minkowski diagram; causality.
Transformation of velocities.
Relativistic optics: aberration of light; Doppler effect.
Relativistic dynamics: E=mc2; energy-momentum transformations and four-vector.
Compton scattering.
General theory
Inertial and gravitational mass; Principle of Equivalence.
Gravitational redshift; Clocks in a gravitational field.
Einstein's theory of gravity; geodesics; non-Euclidean space-time.
The Schwarzschild solution; black holes.
MECHANICS
Harmonic motion: revision of simple harmonic motion, damped and forced harmonic motion.
Coupled osciallators.
Rotational motion: angular momentum and torque, moment of inertia; conservation of angular momentum, gyroscopic motion.
Introduction to Lagrangian mechanics.
Reading Lists
Books
** Recommended Text
G.R. Fowles and G.L. Cassidy Analytical Mechanics
Saunders College Publishing 0030989744
** Supplementary Text
A.P.French Special Relativity
Van Nostrand Reinhold
G.F.R. French and R.M. Williams Flat and Curved Space-Times
Clarendon Press
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5