Classical Dynamics

Chapter One:

Fundamentals of Mechanics

Elementary kinematics

1. trajectories of point particles
2. position, velocity, acceleration

Principles of dynamics

1. Newton's laws
2. the two principles: principle1, principle 2, discussion
3. consequences of Newton's equations: introduction, force is a vector

One-particle dynamical variables

1. momentum
2. angular momentum
3. energy and work: in three dimensions, applications to one-dimensional motion

Many-particle systems

1. momentum and center of mass: center of mass, momentum, variable mass
2. energy
3. angular momentum

Examples

1. velocity phase space and phase portraits: the cosine potential, the Kepler problem
2. a system with energy loss
3. noninertial frames and the equivalence principle

Problems