~ Ph 136 Applications of Classical Physics

Ph 136: APPLICATIONS OF CLASSICAL PHYSICS

Academic Year 2004-2005

Instructor:

Kip Thorne. 154 W. Bridge Annex X4598. Email: kip@tapir.caltech.edu
Office hours: Mondays, 4:15PM in the Theoretical Astrophysics Interaction Room, room 124 Bridge Annex.

Administrative Assistants to Kip and to tapir:
For course and tapir issues: Shirley Hampton. 151 Bridge Annex. X4597. Email: shirley@tapir.caltech.edu
To make appointments with Kip: JoAnn Boyd. 161 West Bridge. X4280. Email: joann@tapir.caltech.edu

Teaching Assistants:

Keith D. Matthews 165c W. Bridge. Email: swerve@its.caltech.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays: 8PM-10PM or by appointment, 165c W. Bridge.

Jeff Atwell. 335 Lauritsen. X2498. Email: atwell@theory.caltech.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays: 8PM-10PM or by appointment, 335 Lauritsen.

Note: Keith and Jeff will hold office hours every other week. Keith will be available during weeks when an even numbered problem set is due, while Jeff will be available when an odd numbered problem set is due.

Old Website for the Academic Year 2002-2003 click here

TEXT

IMPORTANT NOTE: These lectures notes are the current version of a text authored by Blandford and Thorne that is being heavily revised this academic year. They can be freely used by students taking the course and read by all. Duplication by others requires the express consent of the authors. The authors are eager for comments on the content and, in particular, notification of errors.

NOTE CONCERNING PROBLEM SETS: This page presently contains the most up-to-date version of the text. Each week, a problem set will be posted. This set will come from an updated version of the relevant chapter, which will be posted at the same time as the new problem set. DO NOT USE PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THE CHAPTER WHEN WORKING PROBLEMS! An updated version of the chapter, suitable for use on the problem sets, will begin with the number 04.

FILE FORMAT: The textbook, problem sets, and solution sets are available as provided here as PDF files. You can download a free PDF reader here.
Preface and Contents Course Description Questionaire
Chapter 1: Physics in Euclidean Space and Flat Spacetime: Geometric Viewpoint [Version 0401.1.K] , [Version 0301.1] Homework (due Wed. Oct. 6) Solution Set 01 (updated 10/13/04)
Chapter 2: Kinetic Theory [verson 0402.1.K], [version 0302.2.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Oct. 13) Solution Set 02
Chapter 3: Statistical Mechanics [verson 0403.1.K], [version 0303.3.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Oct. 20) Solution set 03
Chapter 4: Statistical Thermodynamics [version 0404.1.K.pdf], [version 0303.3.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Oct. 27) Solution Set 04
Chapter5: Random Processes [version 0405.1.K.pdf], [version 0205.1.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Nov. 3) Solution Set 05
Chapter6: Geometric Optics [version 0406.3.K.pdf], [version 0206.2.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Nov. 11) Solution Set 06
Chapter 7: Diffraction [version 0407.1.K.pdf], [version 0207.1.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Nov. 17) Solution Set 07
Chapter 8: Interference [version 0408.1.K.pdf], [version 0208.1.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Nov 24) Solution Set 08
Chapter 9: Nonlinear Optics [version 0409.1.K.pdf], [version 0209.1.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Dec 1) Solution Set 09
Chapter 10: Elastostatics [version 0410.1.K.pdf], [version 0210.1.pdf] Homework (due Wed. Jan 12), CORRECTED VERSION 0410.2] Solution Set 10
Chapter 11: Elastodynamics [version 0411.1.K.pdf], [version 0211.1.pdf]Homework (due Wed. Jan 19) Solution Set 11
Chapter 12: Foundations of Fluid Dynamics [version 0412.1.K.pdf], [version 0212.2.pdf]Homework (due Wed. Jan 26) Solution Set 12
Chapter 13: Vorticity [version 0413.1.K.pdf], [version 0213.1.pdf]Homework (due Wed. Feb 2) Solution Set 13
Chapter 14: Turbulence [version 0414.1.K.pdf], [version 0214.2.pdf]Homework (due Wed. Feb 9) Solution Set 14
Chapter 15: Waves and Rotating Flows [version 0415.1.K.pdf], [version 0215.2.pdf]Homework 15A (due Wed. Feb 16) Solution Set 15A
Chapter 15: Waves and Rotating Flows [version 0415.2.K.pdf], [version 0215.2.pdf]Homework 15B (due Wed. Feb 23), CORRECTED VERSION 0415B.2] Solution Set 15B
Chapter 16: Compressible and Supersonic Flow [version 0416.1.K.pdf], [version 0416.2.pdf], [version 0216.1.pdf] Homework 16 (due Wed. Mar 2), CORRECTED VERSION 0416.2] Solution Set 16
Chapter 17: Convection [version 0218.1.pdf] Homework Solution Set 17
Chapter 18: Magnetohydrodynamics [version 0418.1.K.pdf], [version 0218.3.pdf]Homework 18 (due Wed. Mar 9) Solution Set 18
Chapter 19: Particle Kinetics of Plasma [version 0419.1.K.pdf], [version 0219.1.pdf]Homework 19 (due Wed. Apr 6) Solution Set 19
Chapter 20: Waves in Cold Plasmas: Two-Fluid Formalism [version 0420.1.K.pdf], [version 0220.1.pdf]Homework 20 (due Wed. Apr 13) Solution Set 20 vr 1.0
Chapter 21: Kinetic Theory of Warm Plasmas [version 0421.1.K.pdf], [version 0221.1.pdf]Homework 21 (due Wed. Apr 20) Solution Set 21
Chapter 22: Nonlinear Dynamics of Plasmas [version 0422.1.K.pdf], [version 0222.2.pdf]Homework 21 (due Wed. Apr 27) Solution Set 22
Chapter 23: From Special to General Relativity [version 0423.1.K.pdf], [version 0223.2.pdf]Homework 23 (due Wed. May 4) Solution Set 23
Chapter 24: Fundamental Concepts of General Relativity [version 0424.1.K.pdf], [version 0224.1.pdf]Homework 24 (due Wed. May 10) Solution Set 24
Chapter 25: Stars and Black Holes [version 0425.1.K.pdf], [version 0225.1.pdf]Homework 25 (due Wed. May 18) Solution Set 25
Chapter 26: Gravitational Waves and Experimental Tests of General Relativity [version 0426.1.K.pdf], [version 0226.1.pdf]Homework 26 (due Wed. May 25) Solution Set 26
Chapter 27: Cosmology [version 0427.1.K.pdf], [version 0227.1.pdf]Homework 27 (Not to be turned in) Solution Set 27
Appendix A: Concept-Based Outline of Book [version 0411.1K.pdf]
Appendix B: Some Unifying Concepts [version 0411.1K.pdf]

EXAMS

Ph136a Exam - December 2004:: examPh136a-2004.pdf

Last update May 18, 2005