PH2205 : Mechanics II (Spring 2026) | Academic Portal of IISER Kolkata

Details of PH2205 (Spring 2026)

Level: 2

Type: Theory

Credits: 2.0

Course Code	Course Name	Instructor(s)
PH2205	Mechanics II	Ananda Dasgupta

Syllabus
Maxwells equations and inadequacy of Galilean transformation; experimental evidences; basic postulates; Lorentz transformations; time dilation and length contraction; simple examples like the photon clock; discussion on some basic paradoxes; space-time diagrams; light-cones; the need for redefining momentum; energy-momentum transformation; 4-vectors; the invariant scalar product; some applications like the Compton effect. Principles of virtual work; introduction to Lagrangians and Hamiltonians.

Syllabus

Maxwells equations and inadequacy of Galilean transformation; experimental evidences; basic postulates;
Lorentz transformations; time dilation and length contraction; simple examples like the photon clock; discussion on some basic paradoxes; space-time diagrams; light-cones; the need for redefining momentum; energy-momentum transformation; 4-vectors; the invariant scalar product; some applications like the Compton effect.
Principles of virtual work; introduction to Lagrangians and Hamiltonians.

Prerequisite
Level 1 physics

References

Sl. No.	Programme	Semester No	Course Choice
1	IP	2	Not Allowed
2	IP	4	Not Allowed
3	MP	2	Not Allowed
4	MP	4	Not Allowed
5	MR	2	Not Allowed
6	MR	4	Not Allowed
7	MS	10	Not Allowed
8	MS ( Physical Sciences )	4	Core
9	MS	6	Not Allowed
10	MS	8	Not Allowed
11	RS	1	Not Allowed
12	RS	2	Not Allowed