|
This module covers various topics in celestial and relativistic mechanics. General relativity is covered at an introductory level.
Module content: Classical & Celestial Mechanics: harmonic motion (simple, damped, forced), longitudinal and transverse waves, the wave equation. Rigid body motion. Newtonian gravitation, celestial mechanics, Kepler's Laws.Special Relativity: Frames of reference, Galilean transformations, the Michelson-Morley experiment, Lorentz transformations, length contraction, time dilatation, equivalence of mass and energy, conservation laws. General Relativity: Introduction to general relativity, principle of equivalence, gravitational red shift and time dilation, Schwarzschild metric, black holes. Newtonian cosmology & general relativity, expansion of the Universe.
This module specifically addresses the following topics of the Core of Physics, as defined by Institute of Physics:
- Calculus to the level of multiple integrals; solution of linear ordinary and differential equations
- Newton’s laws, conservation laws including rotation
- Newtonian gravitation, Kepler’s laws
- Lorentz transformations and energy momentum relationship
- Mechanical properties of matter to include elasticity and thermal expansion
- Free, damped, forced and coupled oscillations to include resonance and normal modes
- Waves in linear media to the level of group velocity
- Doppler effect
|