Course content

The course includes some of the basic subjects and methods in classical theoretical physics. It is divided in three main parts. Part I: Analytical mechanics, with the formulations of Lagrange and Hamilton. Part II: Relativity, with the four-vector formalism applied to relativistic kinematics and dynamics. Part II: Classical electrodynamics, with methods for finding solutions of Maxwells equations, with a special focus on electromagnetic radiation. 

The following subjects are included in the course:

  • Part I: Analytical Mechanics
    • Generalized coordinates and conjugate momenta
    • Lagranges equations
    • Symmetries and constants of motion
    • Hamiltonian dynamics
    • Calculus of variations
  • Part II: Relativity
    • The symmetry transformations of four dimensional spacetime
    • Physical consequences of the Lorentz transformations
    • The four-vector  formalism and covariant equations
    • Vectors and tensors
    • Relativistic kinematics, relativistic conservation laws
    • Relativistic dynamics, Newton's second law in relativistic form
  • Part III: Electrodynamics
    • Maxwell's equations
    • Electromagnetic waves, polarization
    • Solutions with stationary sources, multipole expansions
    • Solutions with time dependent sources, electromagnetic radiation
    • Electric dipole radiation, Larmor's radiation formula
Publisert 10. jan. 2015 13:26 - Sist endret 10. jan. 2015 13:26