How to become a
GOOD Theoretical Physicist

Classical Mechanics

  • Static mechanics (forces, tension); hydrostatics. Newton’s Laws
  • The elliptical orbits of planets. The many-body system
  • The action principle. Hamilton’s equations. The Lagrangean. (Don’t skip - extremely important!)
  • The harmonic oscillator. The pendulum
  • Poisson’s brackets
  • Wave equations. Liquids and gases. The Navier-Stokes equations. Viscosity and friction