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Classical theory of particles and fields (Intro grad course)

Classical theories of dynamics of particles and electromagnetic fields are the crowning achievements of physics of 18th and 19th centuries, respectively. Since then, these subjects have occupied a prominent place in academic curricula. Modern textbooks in classical mechanics and electromagnetism address an ever-expanding range of topics and applications, which are often impossible to cover in a single semester-long course. The implied goal of these courses is to develop expertise in the corresponding subjects. However, the reality of our technocratic society is that most professions require advanced knowledge in just a few specialized subjects that have little overlap with mechanics, so many of the students do not get to use this expertise later in their careers.

This introductory graduate course deals with both subjects in one semester. In such a short time, the course will not provide detailed instructions on how to apply these theories to many of the common physical systems or problems. However, what we hope to accomplish with this course is an understanding of how the scientific method works, that is, how a scientific theory can be developed essentially agnostically rather than empirically, starting from general observations about the world around us. This course will help the students learn how to develop their own theories, be it in mechanics, electromagnetism, or another field of science.