Credits: 5. Grading scale: TH. Compulsory for: M4XTM. Optional for: F2, I3XTV, M3. Course coordinator: Associate Prof. Per Lidström, Mekanik. Prerequisites: Basic course in engineering mechanics, linear algebra and analysis. Assessment: Hand in exercises. Further information: The course might be offered in english. The course will be given autumn 2006. Homepage: http://www.mek.lth.se.

Aim
This course will present the fundamentals of rigid body dynamics and analytical mechanics. Applications will give some familiarity with numerical methods and tools for the solution of dynamical problems.

Contents
Dynamics: Central forces and satellite orbits. Rigid body dynamics in three dimensions; rotation, angular velocity, inertia tensor. Fixed axis and fixed point rotations. Gyroscopic motion; precession, nutation, gyrocompass. Moving reference frames.

Analytical mechanics: Introduction to the methods of Lagrange and the dynamics of Multi-Body Systems. Examples of numerical analysis and simulations in rigid body dynamics.

Literature
Meriam, J. L. & Kraige, L. G.: Engineering Mechanics, (latest edition), SI version, vol 2, Dynamics, Wiley.
Lidström P.: Lecture notes on Dynamics.