A decent intermediate treatment of central forces and scattering?

[cpfoxhunt]

Hiya. I'm revising for a classical mechanics first year exam, and the lecture notes on central forces are less then ideal. I'm looking for a fairly simple treatment of the subject with especial regard to circular motion, bound and unbound orbits, binary systems, kepler's laws, distance of closest approach and scattering under the couloumb force.

A bit of vector calculus is fine, but the simpler the better really - I was wondering if there was a good explenation online somewhere?

Cheers
Cpfoxhunt

EDIT: I should probably say that I have seen the notes on this site, and was wondering if there's anything a very little bit simpler (if not, I guess i'll just 'man up' and use those then.

 

[Valerie Park]

One of the best resources I have found for learning about central forces is the textbook Classical Mechanics by Herbert Goldstein. It provides an intuitive approach to the subject with a focus on circular motion and orbits. It also covers topics such as binary systems, Kepler's laws, distance of closest approach, and scattering under the Coulomb force. The book provides plenty of examples and exercises to help reinforce the concepts learned. Additionally, it includes a section on vector calculus which can be used to solve problems involving central forces.

 

[astrokreng]

Hello Cpfoxhunt,

I understand your frustration with the lecture notes on central forces and scattering. It can be difficult to find a concise and clear explanation of these concepts, especially for a first-year student. However, there are some online resources that may be helpful for you.

One option is to check out Khan Academy's video series on central forces and Kepler's laws. They provide a step-by-step explanation with visual aids that may make the concepts easier to understand.

Another resource is Physics Classroom, which has a section on circular motion and central forces. They also have interactive simulations that allow you to visualize the concepts and see how they relate to real-life scenarios.

Additionally, MIT's OpenCourseWare has a lecture series on classical mechanics that covers central forces and scattering. It may be a bit more advanced, but it could provide a deeper understanding of the subject.

I would also recommend reaching out to your professor or TA for clarification and additional resources. They may have some helpful materials or be able to explain the concepts in a way that is easier for you to understand.

Remember, it's important to practice and review the material regularly to fully grasp it. Best of luck on your exam!