INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TIRUPATI

PROFORMA FOR MODIFIED COURSE

1. Title of the Course Introduction to Classical Mechanics

2. Course Number PHXXXX
3. Status of the Course Core
4. Structure of Credits 2-1-0-3
5. Offered To PG
6. New Course New Course
7. To be Offered by Department of Physics
8. To take effect from August 2020
9. Prerequisite Classical Mechanics at UG level
10. Whether approved by the Department Yes
11. Course Objective: The course is designed to provide fundamental concepts and
application techniques of Newtonian Mechanics employing rigorous methods of
vector calculus which lay the foundation of fluid mechanics and electromagnetic
phenomena. The student would also learn to deal with non-inertial frames and develop
a handle on techniques such as GPS systems, etc.
Course Content: Lagrange’s formalism: D’Alembert’s principle and Euler-Lagrange
equation: Generalized coordinates, constraints, principle of virtual work, Lagrangian
formulation and simple applications, velocity dependent potentials, dissipation function,
Variational principle and applications, Noether's theorem, symmetry and conservation
laws, relativistic and covariant formulation. Hamilton’s Equations: Hamilton’s equation
of motion, cyclic coordinates, Routh’s procedure, principle of least action. Lagrange
equation from Hamilton’s principle, Extension to non-Holonomic systems, Lagrange
multipliers; Hamiltonian formulation: Legendre transformations, Hamilton’s equations,
symmetries and conservation laws in Hamiltonian picture, phase space & phase
trajectories, symmetry groups & Louville’s theorem. Canonical Transformations
(Hamilton-Jacobi Equations): canonical transformations and examples, Symplectic
approach to canonical transformations, cyclic coordinates and conservation laws, action-
angle variables in systems in one dimension and for separable systems, Poisson brackets,
Non-integrable systems; Central force: Two body problem in central force, Equations of
motion, integrable power law potentials, effective potential energy, Virial theorem, nature
of orbits, bound and scattering motions, scattering in a central potential, Rutherford
formula, scattering cross section; Rotating frame and Rigid body motion: Angular
momentum and kinetic energy, moment of inertia tensor and its eigenvalues, Euler angles
and Euler equations, principle axes of transformation, heavy symmetrical top, stability
conditions; Small-oscillations: Eigenvalue problem, frequencies of free vibrations and
normal modes, forced vibrations, dissipation, parametric resonance, anharmonic
oscillators, nonlinear dynamics; Perturbation Theory: Time-dependent perturbation,
12. examples, time-independent theory in first order and higher orders, related applications.
13. Text book(s):
1. H. Goldstein, C. P. Poole and J. Safko, Classical Mechanics, 3rd Ed., Pearson (2012).
2. N. C. Rana and P. S. Joag, Classical Mechanics, Tata Mcgraw Hill (2001)
14. Reference(s):
1. L. Landau and E. Lifschitz, Mechanics (Theoretical Physics Vol. 1), 3rd Ed., Elsevier.
2. I. Percival and D. Richards, Introduction to Dynamics, Cambridge Univ Press ( 1987)