PHYS 439 - Mechanics

(3 credits)
Prerequisite: PHYS 244 with a minimum grade of “C-” Corequisite: PHYS 439L
See Addenda to the 2025/2026 Catalog  for changes to this course effective Spring 2026

Vector treatment of forces, torques: dynamics of particles and rigid bodies; work and energy; momentum; small oscillation theory; Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulation of dynamics are covered in this course, as well as lab work exploring computational methods as applied to classical mechanics. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. Offered alternate years. May be taken for graduate-level credit.