To provide an understanding of the principles of Classical Mechanics and their application to dynamical systems.

(LO1) Find extremal paths using variational principles.

(LO2) Find equations of motion from Lagrangian mechanics, and solve them in simple cases.

(LO3) Use Newtonian gravity and Kepler's laws to perform orbital calculations of satellites, planets and comets.

(LO4) Analyse advanced mechanical problems using Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics.

(LO5) Calculate motion in rotating frames using Coriolis and centrifugal forces.

(LO6) Explain the connection between symmetry and conservation laws.

(LO7) Calculate inertia tensors, and predict the rotations of rigid bodies.

(S1) Applying mathematics to physical problems

(S2) Problem solving skills

Foundations of classical mechanics: Newton's laws of motion, inertial and non-inertial reference frames, energy principles. Applications to simple dynamical systems under various force systems Newton's law of gravitation and its application to motions of planetary bodies and the orbits of satellites. Motion relative to a rotating frame, coriolis and centripetal forces, motion under gravity over the earth's surface,. Rigid body dynamics: centre of mass, angular velocity and momentum principles. Plane motions of laminae, simple 3-dimensional rigid body motions with reference to practical examples such as the orbiting space station, and the axis of rotation of the earth.