Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - PHYS 813 G100

Advanced Mechanics (3)

Class Number: 7273

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Mon, Wed, Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 15, 2025
    Mon, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    PHYS 384 or permission of the department.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Central forces, rigid body motion, small oscillations. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics. Students with credit for PHYS 413 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Details:

• Generalized coordinates, principle of least action
• Conservation laws
• Motion in a central field, Kepler's problem
• Motion of a rigid body
• Canonical formalism, Hamilton's equations, Poisson Brackets, Hamilton-Jacobi equation
• Classical chaos (time permitting)

Course delivery: In person

Grading

  • Problem sets 40%
  • Midterm 20%
  • Final Exam 40%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Required Text:
Classical Mechanics, 3rd edition
Author: Goldstein, Poole, Safko
https://www.amazon.de/Classical-Mechanics-Herbert-Goldstein/dp/0201657023

Recommended Text:
Mechanics: Volume 1, 3rd edition
Author: Landau, Lifshitz


*Students can purchase textbooks from online retailers if e-book not available at SFU Bookstore.

*Access to highspeed internet, computer (ideally with a webcam), headset with a microphone.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.