PHY2601/101/3/2021

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2021

Classical Mechanics
PHY2601

Semesters 1 and 2

Department of Physics

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.

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 CONTENTS
Page

1 INTRODUCTION 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES 3
2.1 Purpose 3
2.2 Outcomes 3
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS 3
3.1 Lecturer(s) 3
3.2 Department 4
3.3 University 4
4 RESOURCES 4
4.1 Prescribed books 4
4.2 Recommended books 5
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) 5
4.4 Library services and resources information 5
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES 6
6 STUDY PLAN 6
7 PRACTICAL WORK 6
8 ASSESSMENT 6
8.1 Assessment criteria 6
8.2 Assessment plan 6
8.3 Assignment numbers 7
8.3.1 General assignment numbers 7
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers 7
8.4 Assignment due dates 7
8.5 Submission of assignments 7
8.6 The assignments 9
8.7 Other assessment methods 10
8.8 The examination 10
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 10
10 SOURCES CONSULTED 10
11 IN CLOSING 10
12 ADDENDUM 10

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 PHY2601/101/3/2021

1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student

SEMESTER 1 AND SEMESTER 2

Semester 1 and Semester 2 will run concurrently in 2021, both using the same assignment
dates and similar assignment questions. However, since the students will be registered for
either Semester 1 or Semester 2, the two semesters do need to have separate unique
assignment numbers.

Because this is a fully online module, you will need to use myUnisa to study and complete the
learning activities. Visit the website for PHY2601 on myUnisa frequently. The website for your
module is PHY2601-21-S1/ PHY2601-21-S2.

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose
The module PHY2601 deals with the following aspects of Physics:
• Linear and Rotational Motion
• The Laws of Motion
• Newton’s Equations of Motion
• Conservation of Mechanical Energy and Momentum
• The Gravitational Field
• Lagrange’s Equations of Motion
• Hamilton’s Equations of Motion

2.2 Outcomes
The student should understand and be able to use fundamental methods in classical theoretical physics.
These include analytical mechanics in the formulations of Lagrange and Hamilton, with the use of
generalized coordinates and conjugate momenta, and the method of variations. Within relativity the
student should be able to use four-vectors, with application to relativistic kinematics and dynamics.

3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturer(s)
The lecturer responsible for this module will be announced in a follow up tutorial letter. The lecturer is
available for phone calls or pre-arranged appointments on weekdays from 08:00 till 15:30.
All queries that are not of a purely administrative nature but are about the content of this module should
be directed to the Physics Department. Please have your student number, module code and study

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 material at hand when you contact us. When you send an e-mail or letter, please include your student
number and the module code. The contact information is as follows:
The Module Lecturer PHY2601 Tel: +27+(0)11-670-9065
Department of Physics, College of Science, Fax: +27+(0)12+429-3643
Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, E-mail: [email protected] &
Private Bag X6, Florida, 1710, Science Campus, [email protected]
Christiaan de Wet and Pioneer Avenue, Florida Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
3.2 Department
Please note that the department is now located on Florida campus. Our new address and contact
details are as follows:
Department of Physics, Eureka Building (2nd floor), CSET, UNISA, Private Bag X6, Florida, 1710,
Christiaan de Wet and Pioneer Avenue, Florida Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Tel: +27-(0)11-670-9066, Fax: +27+(0)12-429-3643, E-mail: [email protected] and
[email protected]
3.3 University
If you need to contact the university about matters not related to the content of this module, please consult
the My Studies @ Unisa brochure that you received with your study material. This booklet contains
information on how to contact the University (e.g. to whom you can write for different queries, important
telephone and fax numbers, addresses and details of the times certain facilities are open).
Always have your student number at hand when you contact the university.
 E-mail [email protected]
 Online address: http://my.unisa.ac.za

Physical and postal address:

Department of Physics, Eureka Building (2nd floor), CSET, UNISA, Private Bag X6, Florida, 1710,
Christiaan de Wet and Pioneer Avenue, Florida Park, Johannesburg, South Africa

4 RESOURCES
4.1 Prescribed books
The prescribed textbooks for this module for this semester:
• Prescribed textbook:
Classical Dynamics of particles and systems, 5th edition, by S. T. Thornton and J. B. Marion, Cengage
Learning, 2008 ISBN:978-0-53440-896-1

You can buy the textbook from local booksellers.

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Please consult the list of official booksellers and their addresses listed in My Studies @ Unisa. The
content of the module is based on chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14 in the prescribed textbook.
All sections of each chapters should be studied.
Note: If you have any problem to have the prescribed book, then you can contact directly to your lecturer
([email protected]) for further suggestions.
4.2 Recommended books
There are three textbooks on classical mechanics recommended for this module. However, other
textbooks on classical mechanics you may find in the Unisa library will probably deal with most of the
prescribed material. Please contact the Unisa library if you would like to borrow any additional books.
The three recommended books are:
 Classical Mechanics, 3rd edition, by H. Goldstein, C. Poole, J. Safko, Pearson Education Int. (2002).
ISBN: 9780201657029
 Classical Mechanics, by R. D. Gregory, Cambridge University Press. (2006). ISBN: 978-0521534093
When requesting the recommended books from the Library, please supply the full book number on your
request card.
List of recommended books with book numbers:
TITLE AUTHOR REQUEST NUMBER
Classical Mechanics Goldstein, H 11-047513-PHY260-r
Classical Mechanics Gregory, R. 11-047512-PHY260-r

4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

There are no e-reserves for this module.

4.4 Library services and resources

For brief information, go to www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies
For detailed information, go to the Unisa website at http://www.unisa.ac.za/ and click on
Library.
For research support and services of personal librarians, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=7102.

The library has compiled a number of library guides:

 finding recommended reading in the print collection and e-reserves

–http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/undergrad
 requesting material – http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
 postgraduate information services – http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
 finding, obtaining and using library resources and tools to assist in doing research –
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_Skills

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  how to contact the library/finding us on social media/frequently asked questions –
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

For information on the various student support systems and services available at Unisa (e.g. student
counselling, tutorial classes, language support), please consult the publication My Studies @ Unisa,
which you received with your study material.

6 STUDY PLAN
Study plan Semester 1 Semester 2
Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14 1st April --- 31st Aug 2021 1st April – 31st Aug. 2021

7 PRACTICAL WORK AND WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING

There is no practical work for this module.

8 ASSESSMENT
8.1 Assessment criteria
There are two assignments in each semester (AS 01 and AS 02) (see 8.6)
8.2 Assessment plan
Assignments are seen as part of the learning material for this module. As you do the assignment, study the
reading texts, consult other resources, discuss the work with fellow students or do research, you are
actively engaged in learning. Looking at the assessment criteria given for each assignment will help you
to understand what is required of you more clearly.
You are advised to work through the relevant chapters in the prescribed textbook thoroughly before
attempting to solve assignment problems. It is essential to ensure that your assignments reach us on or
before the due date.
Consider the following strategies when solving assignment problems:
Analyse the problem
 Identify the information provided.
 Explain the symbols used.
 If necessary, draw a diagram for clarity.
Plan the Solution
 Follow an analogous illustration/example, if any, in the prescribed textbook.
 Indicate the principles/laws of classical mechanics involved.
 Explain the equations required.

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Provide a Solution with

 Supply systematic and coherent arguments.
 Provide physically reasonable results.
 Be consistent
The assessment consists of two assignments. The assignment mark will contribute 20% to your final
mark. Thus it is in your best interest to submit the assignment and to do a good job of it! The questions
are provided at the end of this tutorial letter.

8.3 Assignment numbers

8.3.1 General assignment numbers
There are two assignments in each semester in this module (see 8.6)
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers
Please remember to write the unique assignment number on the cover page of your assignment upon
submission.
Semester 1: Assignment 01: 820037
Assignment 02: 737699
Semester 2: Assignment 01: 851068
Assignment 02: 706084
8.4 Assignment due dates
Please remember that the due date is the date on which the assignment must reach Unisa.
Semester 1: You must submit at least one assignment on or before 12 th May and the second one on or
before 12th Aug. 2021.

Semester 2: You must submit at least one assignment on or before 12 th May and the second one on or
before 12th Aug. 2021.

8.5 Submission of assignments

You submit your written assignments by electronically via the myUnisa portal. Consult the brochure My
studies @ Unisa for details on how to do this. Assignments may NOT be submitted by fax or e-mail.

You will receive the solutions (keys) for each of the assignments from Unisa a few weeks after the due
dates of the assignments. These solutions will be posted on the module website for you to download.

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To submit an assignment via myUnisa:
 Go to myUnisa.
 Log in with your student number and password
 Select the module.
 Click on assignments in the left-hand menu.
 Click on the assignment number you want to submit.
 Follow the instructions on the screen.

PLEASE NOTE: Enquiries about assignments (e.g. whether or not the university has received your
assignment or the date on which an assignment was returned to you) must be addressed to the relevant
departments or sections provided in the My Studies @Unisa brochure. You might also find further
information on myUnisa in this regard.
 You will receive the correct answers automatically for multiple-choice questions. For written
assignments, markers will comments constructively on your work. However, commentaries on
compulsory assignments will be sent to all students registered for this module in a follow-up tutorial
letter, and not only to those students who submitted the assignments. The tutorial letter number will be
201, 202, etc.
 As soon as you have received the feedback, please go back to your written work and check carefully
where you have made mistakes and why. The assignments and the comments on these assignments
constitute the most important part of your learning and will help you to perform better in the next
assignment and the final examination.

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8.6 The assignments

SEMESTER 1 AND SEMESTER 2

(Same assignments for both semester but unique assignment
numbers are different)

If you have registered for this module in the first semester, you must submit solutions to ONLY the
following two compulsory assignments.

SEMESTER 1
Assignment 01:
Due date: 12th May 2021
Unique assignment number: 820037

Chapters Exercise
1 1.10 & 1.9(a)
2 2.8 & 2.9

5 5.7 & 5.18

6 6.4 & 6.10

7 7.3 & 7.11

TOTAL 100
Assignment 02:
Due date: 12th Aug 2021
Unique assignment number: 737699

Chapters Exercise
8 8.5 & 8.10
9 9.3 & 9.8

10 10.6 & 10.20

11 11.3 & 11.11

14 14.12 & 14.14

TOTAL100

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If you have registered for this module in the second semester, you must submit solutions to ONLY the
following two compulsory assignments.

SEMESTER 2
Assignment 01:
Due date: 12th May 2021
Unique assignment number: 851068

Chapters Exercise
1 1.10 & 1.9(a)
2 2.8 & 2.9

5 5.7 & 5.18

6 6.4 & 6.10

7 7.3 & 7.11

TOTAL 100
Assignment 02:
Due date: 12th Aug 2021
Unique assignment number: 706084

Chapters Exercise
8 8.5 & 8.10
9 9.3 & 9.8

10 10.6 & 10.20

11 11.3 & 11.11

14 14.12 & 14.14

TOTAL100
8.7 Other assessment methods
There are no other assessment methods in this module.

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8.8 The examination

You will be admitted to the examination if you have submitted the two compulsory assignments. Your
final mark for the module will be made up as follows: 20% from the assignment average and 80% from
the final examination.
During the course of the semester, i.e. April-August, the Examination Section will provide you with more
information regarding the examination in general, examination venues, examination dates and
examination times.

9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For any other study information see the brochure My Studies @ Unisa.

10 SOURCES CONSULTED
Prescribed textbook, recommended textbooks, and myUnisa.

11 IN CLOSING
Carefully check the due dates for the assignments and make sure that you submit your assignments on
time. We are not going to accept any late submissions and there will be no extension on the due
dates.
We hope that this tutorial letter has provided you with all the information needed to save you time and
make your studies easy.

12 ADDENDUM
There is no addendum for this module.

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