Syllabus Application
PHYS 401
Classical Mechanics
Faculty
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Semester
Spring 2025-2026
Course
PHYS 401 -
Classical Mechanics
Time/Place
Time
Week Day
Place
Date
09:40-10:30
Tue
FASS-1081
Feb 16-May 22, 2026
09:40-11:30
Wed
FASS-1081
Feb 16-May 22, 2026
Level of course
Undergraduate
Course Credits
SU Credit:3, ECTS:6, Basic:6
Prerequisites
-
Corequisites
-
Course Type
Lecture
Instructor(s) Information
Göktuğ Karpat
Course Information
Catalog Course Description
Hamilton's principle, Euler-Lagrange equations, conservation laws, integration of the equations of motion, Kepler's problem, collisions and scattering, small oscillations, rigid body motion, Hamilton's equations, canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi equation.
Course Learning Outcomes:
| 1. | Determine the equations describing the motion of mechanical systems using the techniques of Lagrangian mechanics. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Develop an understanding of how symmetries in nature are related to fundamental conservation laws. |
| 3. | Describe the motion of a system being affected by a central force, with particular emphasis on the classical Kepler problem. |
| 4. | Acquire proficiency in analyzing collisions, disintegrations and scattering of particles. |
| 5. | Perform calculations to describe the oscillatory motion of particles and gain a solid understanding of coupled oscillations. |
| 6. | Determine the equations of motion representing the dynamics of rigid bodies. |
| 7. | Analyze the motion of mechanical systems utilizing the techniques of Hamiltonian mechanics and perform canonical transformations. |
Course Objective
The main objective of the course is to present fundamental theoretical methods to analyze the motion of mechanical systems.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Related to This Course:
| Life On Land |
Course Materials
Resources:
- Mechanics (Course of Theo. Phys., Volume 1), 3rd Edition, L.D. Landau & E.M. Lifshitz.
- Classical Mechanics, 3rd Edition, Goldstein, Poole & Safko.
- Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, 5th Edition, Thornton & Marion.
- Classical Mechanics, 3rd Edition, Goldstein, Poole & Safko.
- Classical Dynamics of Particles and Systems, 5th Edition, Thornton & Marion.