Dynamics and Relativity (U01343)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 9 ? Acronym : PHY-3-DynRel

This course emphasises frames of reference in discussing the classical mechanics of particles. It starts with a review of Newtonian mechanics, the importance of inertial frames and the classical description of collisions and scattering processes. Non-inertial frames are introduced, leading to a discussion of the centrifugal and Coriolis forces. There follows a substantial section on Special Relativity, which introduces Lorentz transformations, Minkowski spacetime, relativistic kinematics, and the application of four-vector methods to particle collisions and decays. The course concludes with an introduction to General Relativity through a discussion of the equivalence principle, and the idea of curved spacetime.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Physics 2A: Forces, Fields and Potentials (PHY-2-A); Physics 2B: Waves, Quantum Physics and Materials (PHY-2-B); Foundations of Mathematical Physics (PHY-2-FoMP) or Applicable Mathematics 4 and Mathematical Methods 4 (MAT-2-am4/mm4) or MP2A: Vectors, Tensors and Fields (PHY-2-MP2A) and MP2B: Dynamics (PHY-2-MP2B).

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

Dynamics and Relativity (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy), (School of Physics and Astronomy, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
22/09/2008	09:00	10:00	Lecture Theatre C, JCMB	KB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	09:00	09:50	KB
Lecture	Thursday	09:00	09:50	KB

? Additional Class Information : Workshop/tutorial sessions, as arranged.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1)state the definition of an 'inertial frame', understand the virtues of using the 'Lab' and 'Centre of Mass' frames and exploit them in problem-solving by means of the Galilean transformation
2)Apply appropriate conservation laws to two particle scattering problems, and hence determine scattering trajectories, differential cross-sections and total cross-sections;
3)Explain the occurrence of 'fictitious forces' in accelerating reference frames;
4)Interpret and apply formulae for the centrifugal and coriolis forces in a rotating frame'
5)State the postulates of Special Relativity and discuss their implications for 'simultaneity';
6)State the Lorentz transformation and demonstrate the utility of Minkowski diagrams;
7)Apply the Lorentz transformation in problem solving and use it to derive time dilation, length contraction and velocity addition formulae;
8)State the definition of 4-vectors, demonstrate the Lorentz invariance of their scalar products and appreciate their significance in the context of causality;
9)Apply the 4-vector formulation of relativistic dynamics to particle decays and relativistic collisions;
10)Discuss 'Equivalence' and space-time curvature, and derive the gravitational Doppler shift formula.