SUNY-Geneseo/Physics & Astronomy

Spring 2012

Mathematical Methods

in Physics

(Phys 228)

MW 1:30 - 2:20, Newton 204

   Pogo's Home Page

   Dr. Pogo  (pogo at geneseo.edu)

   Where's Pogo?

   Office: ISC 228D

   

Syllabus in PDF Format	Virtual Labs at Geneseo:
Demos, Homework Assignments, and Solutions
Equation Sheet for Final Exam	Virtual Lab Instructions
Current Grade Status	Geometric Series Update

What am I doing here? At the end of this course, your skill with a variety of commonly used mathematical and numerical methods in physics in engineering (as listed below) will be substantially increased. You should already have some prior exposure to most of these techniques through you calculus and differential equations courses. We will focus on the practical rather than the theoretical aspects of each technique, but there will naturally be some theory involved. The topics include derivatives and partial derivatives, infinite series (including Fourier series and Taylor series), vector calculus, complex numbers, linear algebra, tensors, differential equations, and probability. There will also be some examination of commonly used numerical techniques.

What do I have to read? The textbook is: Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, by Mary Boas (3^rd edition, Wiley). This book is very readable.

How will I be graded? Your grade will be determined by:  

Weekly Assignments & Quizzes:

Exams (3 total)

 

Note that you will not be permitted to use any technology (e.g., calculators) on the first exam!

 40%

 60%

100%

Final Exam: The final exam will be held on Tuesday, May 8, from 12:00 to 3:00pm, and will be comprehensive.

Assignments: Homework will be done primarily on CAPA this semester. However, some assignments will require submission of MathCAD documents, or supporting written work. Written work will be graded on clarity (a combination of neatness and completeness) and presentation quality. Be warned: an answer is not the same as a solution. Assignments that are too hard to understand are also too hard to grade, and will receive zeroes.

       Some reminders about the minimum requirements for acceptable assignments:

·        Use the correct filename, EXACTLY. Do not change or misplace a single character.

·         Put your name and the assignment number on the top of the worksheet, and label each individual problem with the corresponding problem number.

·         Do the assignment correctly. Make sure your final solution is clearly highlighted or boxed.

·         Choose reasonable and unique variable names.

·         Appearance counts:  your work should be left justified and reasonably spaced.

·         Supplement your equations with text and/or diagrams when necessary. A third party who is not in the class should be able to understand both the question and the answer from your solution, without needing to even see the assignment itself.

·         Plots should have a sufficient and reasonable range for the independent variable. Contour and surface plots should have correct aspect ratios.

·         For assignment 13, do not create series that are functions of integrals. Determine the simplified form of the integral first.

What is the course schedule? Here is a tentative hourly schedule of topics for the semester.

What is the course schedule? Here is a tentative schedule of topics for the semester: 

What if I have trouble with the homework? Come see me during office hours (see times listed above) and I’ll try to point you in the right direction. You may never visit office hours for help on the same day that an assignment is due (you should have gotten help much earlier than that, and I won’t encourage irresponsible procrastination). Also, I know that most of you will work in groups, and I won’t attempt to stop it. However, the learning is in the doing. Nobody on this planet learns from copying somebody else’s work, no matter how clear or correct it is. Every part of every problem that you let somebody else do for you is something that you are deciding that you just don’t want to learn. You will not have their help on exams!

Learning Outcomes

 At the end of this course, students will:

• Gain proficiency in taking derivatives and partial derivatives
• Gain proficiency in the use of geometric series, power series, Fourier series, and Taylor series
• Gain proficiency in the use of vectors and vector operators
• Gain proficiency in the use of complex numbers
• Gain proficiency in the use of linear algebra and tensors
• Gain proficiency in the use of differential equations
• Gain proficiency in basic probability and statistical analysis
• Gain proficiency in some basic types of numerical analysis using tools in MathCAD and Excel
• Learn multiple practical uses for each of the above topics.