Mechanics

Students will learn the Newtonian mechanics of a point mass, of extended systems (fluids and rigid bodies) and will be introduced to special relativity.

At the end of the course students are expected to:
· Know how to describe the kinematics of a point mass;
· Identify the system of forces acting on a point mass and deduce its motion;
· Know the main dynamics variables (momentum, energy, angular momentum) and their conservation laws;
· Address the dynamics of extended systems (systems of point masses, fluids, rigid bodies);
· Know the properties of the motion in a gravitational field;
· Know the basics of special relativity (space-time transforms, four-vectors, relativistic energy and momentum, massenergy transformations)
The knowledge must be both theoretical (ability to explain topics in details and to answer upon requests of clarification) and practical (ability in solving quantitatively specific problems)