Advanced

Classical Physics

Revision Lecture
 Calendar
• Office Hours: H505 in Huxley Building
– 12-13 pm on Tuesday, May 23
– 12-13 pm on Thursday, May 25
• Exam: Great Hall
– 10am-12pm on Tuesday, May 30
 Aim of the Course
• Aim: To give you a thorough understanding of
classical physics at an advanced level
• Outline:
1. Rotating Frames
2. Rigid Bodies
3. Lagrangian Mechanics
4. Hamiltonian Mechanics
5. Dynamical Systems
6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
1. Rotating Frames
1. Rotating Frames
 1. Rotating Frames
•
Coriolis Force Centrifugal Force
2. Rigid Bodies
 2. Rigid Bodies
•
 2. Rigid Bodies
•
 2. Rigid Bodies
•
 3. Lagrangian Mechanics
•

t
qb
tb

ta
qa q
3. Lagrangian Mechanics

 3. Lagrangian Mechanics
•
 4. Hamiltonian Mechanics
•
 4. Hamiltonian Mechanics
•
 5. Dynamical Systems
3
✓ 2
◆
d x dx d x
dt 3
= G t, x, , 2
dt dt
Non-Autonomous

3
✓ 2
◆
d x dx d x
= G x, , 2 Autonomous, 3rd order
dt 3 dt dt

dx
=y
dt Autonomous
dy
dt
=z 3x1st order
dz
= G(t, x, y, z)
dt
 5. Dynamical Systems
ẋ = F (x, y)
Stability Analysis
ẏ = G(x, y)

F =G=0 Critical Points?

x = x0 + ⇠
y = y0 + ⌘
Perturb around critical points

˙⇠ = ⇠ @F +⌘
@F
+ O(⇠ 2 , ⌘ 2 ) ,
@x x=x0 ,y=y0 @y x=x0 ,y=y0
@G @G
⌘˙ = ⇠ +⌘ + O(⇠ 2 , ⌘ 2 )
@x x=x0 ,y=y0 @y x=x0 ,y=y0
 5. Dynamical Systems
linearised system
✓ ◆ ! ✓ ◆ ✓ ◆
@F @F
⇠˙ @x @y ⇠ ⇠
= @G @G =M·
⌘˙ @x @y
⌘ ⌘
x=x0 ,y=y0

Diagonalised system - eigenvalue problem

✓ ◆ ✓ ◆
⇠ ⇠
M· =
⌘ ⌘
Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2014 Dynamical Systems

1. 1 6= 2, real, same sign ! improper, stable (negative), or unstable (positive), node.

2. 1, 2, real, opposite sign ! saddle point.

3. 1 = 2 = and M can be diagonalized (two eigenvectors exist) ! proper, stable (nega-
tive), unstable (positive), node.

4. 1 = 2 = and M cannot be diagonalized (only one eigenvectors exist) ! improper or

inflected, stable (negative), unstable (positive), node.
5. 1 and 2 are complex conjugates µ ± i⌫ with both real and imaginary components !
spiral, stable (negative µ), unstable (positive µ), node.

6. 1 and 2 are pure imaginary conjugates ±i⌫ ! stable centre.

7. If |M| = 0 (singular matrix) ! critical point is not isolated.

8. If one or two eigenvectors exist and are real they give the orientation of the asymptotes for
the inflection and improper nodes respectively.
 Advanced Classical Physics, Autumn 2014 Dynamica

ced Classical Physics, Autumn 2014 Dynamical Systems

Figure 5.3:

5.2.2 Lotka-Volterra system

This is a model of competing species (prey and predators) with populations x, y. The system is
given by two first order differential equations for the populations each involving a feedback and
an interaction component
ẋ = ax bxy ,
ẏ = cy + dxy , (5.2.14)
with a, b, c, and d are positive parameters quantifying the level of feedback and interaction. Feed-
back is positive for the prey but its interaction with predators results in a negative contribution to
the population (vice versa for predators).
The system has two critical points
• (0,0) with ✓ ◆
Figure 5.4: a 0
, (5.2.15)
0 c
with eigenvalues = a, c and eigenvectors
p ✓ ◆ ✓ ◆ Figure 5.5:
with eigenvalues = ±i ac. This is a centre.
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 6. Relativistic Electromagnetism
•
 Exam
• 10 – 12 on Tuesday, May 30, Great Hall
• Rubric:
– Four compulsory questions
– Revise all material!
– Every question has easy bits: 

Remember to answer them all!
– Don’t panic, Slow down, Be methodical!!