November 30, 2006
http://cns.physics.gatech.edu/~roman/phys4421/index.html
Introduction to Continuum Physics
Instructor
Roman Grigoriev
Office: Howey W304 (office hours: Tuesday 3-4pm)
Phone: (404) 385-1130
E-mail:
Place and Times
Course Description
Continuum physics describes the macroscopic physical world around us. The
enormous progress of quantum physics in 20th century has almost eliminated this
kind of physics from the core physics curriculum - still research in nonlinear
science, geophysics, biology, engineering, demands increased mastery of its
methodology. The course aims to redress the balance by offering a modern,
unified introduction to the basic concepts and phenomenology of continuous
systems.
The course is intended for physics, biology, math, engineering and geophysics
advanced undergraduates, starting graduate students. The mathematical
prerequisites are modest and are developed further as the need arises.
Textbook
Benny Lautrup, "Physics of Continuous Matter: Exotic and Everyday Phenomena in the
Macroscopic World," (IoP Publishing, 2005).
Grading
There will be a mid-term and a final exam; the grades will be based solely on
the results of these exams (40%/60%). Homework assignments will be posted on the
web every Thursday. They will not be graded (the textbook contains solutions),
but we will have an in-class discussion of any difficulties you may have
encountered. Homeworks are your way to prepare for the exams, as such you are
required to worked them through. In general, you
are expected to comply with the academic
honor code.
Course Schedule
August 22
1. Introduction
Reading: lecture notes
Check out these
cool numerical simulations
of continuum matter.
August 24
2. Pressure
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 1.1, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18, 2.23 (rotation is around z axis).
August 29
3. Pressure (continued)
Reading: lecture notes
August 31
4. Buoyancy
Reading: lecture notes
Check out these
numerical simulations and
actual movies
of fast rising bubbles.
Problems: 4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, 5.1, 5.2
September 5
5. Buoyancy (continued)
Reading: lecture notes
September 7
6. Planets and stars
Reading: lecture notes
Additional information about
the planets of our solar system and
the sun.
Problems: 5.5, 5.11, 6.3, 6.4
September 12
7. Hydrostatic shapes
Reading: lecture notes
September 14
8. Hydrostatic shapes (continued)
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 7.3, 7.5
September 19
9. Hydrostatic shapes (continued)
Reading: lecture notes
September 21
10. Surface tension
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 7.8
September 26
11. Surface tension and little droplets
Reading: lecture notes
Fun stuff:
water-walking,
fluid chains and
fishbones,
Rayleigh-Plateau
instability,
droplets collisions (make sure to click "next")
September 28
12. Jet break-up and capillary effect
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 8.1, 8.3
For your viewing pleasure: jet breakup of newtonian, slightly non-newtonian, and viscoelastic fluid shot using strobe light. More jet breakup for a non-newtonian fluid under continuous illumination.
October 3
13. Big droplets and bubbles
Reading: lecture notes
For your viewing pleasure: dripping faucet movie and
theoretical model.
October 5
14. Stress
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 8.4, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4
October 10
15. Stress and strain
Reading: lecture notes
October 12
16. Strain
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 9.6, 9.8, 9.9, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.8
October 17
Recess
October 19
17. Linear elasticity
Reading: lecture notes
October 24
Midterm
October 26
18. Midterm review
October 31
19. Linear elasticity
Reading: lecture notes
November 2
20. Buckling under load
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 12.4
November 7
21. Elastic equilibrium
Reading: lecture notes
November 9
22. Elastic vibrations
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 12.2, 12.5, 12.6, 14.1, 14.4
November 14
23. Fluids in motion
Reading: lecture notes
November 16
24. Euler equation
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, 15.6, 16.1, 16.2
November 21
25. Vorticity
Reading: lecture notes
November 23
Holiday
November 28
26. Potential flow
Reading: lecture notes
November 30
27. Viscous flow
Reading: lecture notes
Problems: 16.3, 16.4, 16.13, 17.1, 17.2, 17.4
December 5
28. Creeping flow
Reading: lecture notes
December 7
29. Turbulence
Course Instructor Opinion Survey
Please fill out the online
Course Survey.
This is your real opportunity to provide feedback regarding the contents of the
course, the style and quality of the presentation, or any other subject related
to the course. Tell us what you liked and what you did not like. Your input is
very valuable and will benefit students taking this course in subsequent years.