Prospectus

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Klassieke Mechanica a

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Prior knowledge of Analyse 1 (NA) and Lineare Algebra 1 (NA)

Description

This first course in Classical Mechanics describes the (non-relativistic) motion of objects in three dimensional space following from Newton’s laws. You learn to describe the motion mathematically, by analyzing forces and setting up the relevant equations.
The introduced concepts such as conservation laws and force balances are used in most physical processes and are therefore of great importance.

The lecture consists of lectures, associated work-study assignments and assignment sets.

Topics will include the following:
1. Motion and acceleration
2. Newton’s laws: forces and motion.
3. Energy, work, linear momentum, angular momentum.
4. Equations of motion in three dimensions.
5. Harmonic motion, resonance and damped driven harmonic oscillator
6. Friction: static, dynamic
7. Systems of many particles: center-of-mass, reduced mass, elastic and inelastic collisions.
8. Rotations around a fixed axis: moment of inertia, angular momentum, torque.
9. Conservative forces and potential energy.
10. Non-inertial systems, both with linear acceleration and rotation. The concepts of Coriolis force, centripetal force, transversal force.

Course objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to mathematically describe non-relativistic motions of objects in three-dimensional space.

This includes being able to

  • Apply the laws of Newton to describe the motion of simple objects in two and three dimensions and quantify involved forces.

  • Calculate energy, work, momentum and angular momentum.

  • Use the conservation laws to quantify the motion of multiple particles.

  • Take into account various forms of friction and driving forces when determining the motion of objects.

  • Quantify motion in non-inertial systems and know the therein appearing forces, such as the Coriolis force, centripetal and transversal force.

  • Apply the concepts of conservative forces and potential energy.

Transferable Skills

You will learn to analyze and abstract complex mechanical situations by solving the exercises.

Timetable

Schedule
For detailed information go to Timetable in Brightspace

In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.

Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.

Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.

Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.

Mode of instruction

See Brightspace. This class will be taught in Dutch.

Assessment method

The course is graded using a midterm test, assignment sets and an exam.

Reading list

Obligatory (book): Intermediate Dynamics, Patrick Hamill, 2nd edition (Cambridge University Press)

Registration

As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.

In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.

There are two enrolment periods per year:

  • Enrolment for the fall opens in July

  • Enrolment for the spring opens in December

See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.

Note:

  • It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.

  • Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.

  • Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.

Contact

Contactgegevens docent: Dr. S.E. Henkes

Remarks

Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.