Lectures: 1-2pm on Mon, Wed and Fri, in Hennings 202.

Tutorials: Tue at 8:30m in Hebb 12, or Thus 2pm in Hebb 12.

Prerequisites: one of MATH 200, MATH 217, MATH 226 and either (a) one of PHYS 108, PHYS 153, SICIE001 or (b) PHYS 102 (PHYS 216 if less than 68% in PHYS 102)

Textbook: "Mechanics" by L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, available (in limited numbers) at the UBC bookstore. As an alternative, a listing of online vendors can be found here (choose carefully who you buy from, I am not endorsing anybody).

Material: the course will cover various aspects of Langrangean and Hamiltonian mechanics. This a very powerful although somewhat abstract formalism. Although it is equivalent to Newtonian mechanics, it allows one to tackle problems which are rather difficult to solve in the Newtonian formulation. More importantly, this formalism can be generalized, and will provide the basis for later courses in quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, electromagnetism and field theory.

Tutorial: you are strongly encouraged to attend the tutorial sessions, which will be devoted to solving problems and clarifying concepts taught in class. I will lead the tutorials. I will have a list of problems that we will work through together. You're welcome to add any problems that you find interesting to the list.

Assigments: 6 sets in all, one every 2 weeks, with best 5 grades counting towards the final mark. The problem sets will be given to you in class; they and the corresponding due dates are also available on-line here. The homework must be turned in on due date in class. Problems should be neatly written, in the order assigned, on pages stapled together (no torn edges or paperclips). The solutions will be posted on-line immediately; as a result, late homeworks will not be accepted. Discussions regarding the homework problems are encouraged. However, the writing of the homework must be done by each student on his/her own. Under no circumstances should you copy or even look at someone else's solution to a problem before you have submitted your own homework, quiz, or exam for credit. Identical homeworks will be severely penalized.

If you fail to find the correct and complete solution to any assignment problem, make sure right away that you understand the posted solution and are able to solve similar problems by yourself. If you cannot follow the posted solution, come and see me, or the grader, or discuss it with your best friends from among PHYS206 students. Do not procrastinate! Things will not get any easier later on. As an incentive towards re-doing assignments, one of the final exam problems will be identical to one of the assignment problems.

Exams: the midterm will be scheduled during a regular class (50min long), at a time TBA. A list of useful formulae will be provided by me; no extra materials will be allowed. Calculators are not needed. If there is any potential scheduling conflict, let me know as soon as possible before the exam. Makeups are available ONLY for students with written evidence for emergencies such as sudden illness, accident, death in the family, etc. The final exam will be 2.5h long, and will be scheduled during the exam session in April.

Grading:

• 25%: best 5 out of the 6 assignments
• 25%: midterm
• 50%: final exam