Physics 301 - Intro to Mathematical Physics - Spring 2024
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Instructor |
Renate Wackerbauer, |
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| Open Office hours | Walk-ins are very welcome ! appointments help; meeting via
zoom works;
email is effective for straight-forward questions.
additional
recitation classes can be scheduled on request. |
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| Course Info | Phys301, 4 credits (4 hours of lecture!) |
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| Prerequisites | Phys211, 212, 213; Math252; or permission of instructor. | |||||||||
| Lectures | MWF
2:15 to 3:15 pm, REIC 207; T 9:45-10:45 am, REIC 207 |
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| Noyes Lab | Access to the Noyes Computer Lab (Rm 101 NSCI) is provided to all students enrolled in a Physics course. Your polar express card lets you in. | |||||||||
| Text | Required text: Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, by M Boas, John Wiley and Sons (3rd edition, 2005); The publisher provides a listing of errata for this text. Mathematical handbooks will be very useful for this course; one recommendation is Abramowitz and Stegun: Handbook of Mathematical Functions; it can be downloaded for free. Supplementary readings: *Mathematical Methods in Engineering and Physics, GN Felder and KM Felder, Wiley Press ---- nice pedagogical approaches *Essential Mathematical Methods for Physicists, by HJ Weber, F Harris, and GB Arfken, Elsevier Academic Press ---- this is an undergraduate level book, widely used - *Mathematical Methods for Physicists, by GB Arfken and HJ Weber, Elsevier Academic Press, ---- this book is for advanced reading - usually at the graduate level - Various mathematics books in the library cover individual parts of the material presented in the lectures. Please explore them to see different approaches to our topics. |
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Course Content |
Introduction
to theoretical foundations of classical and modern physics.
Includes
calculus of vector fields, linear algebra and elementary
tensor theory,
complex analysis, ordinary linear differential equations,
linear
partial differential equations, Fourier analysis and
probability.
Physical applications include planetary motion, rotating
bodies and
inertia tensor, damped and driven harmonic oscillator, wave
equation,
Schroedinger's equation and diffusive systems. |
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| Course Goals | This course provides an introduction into mathematical methods that are essential for the upper division Physics courses. Of course these mathematical tools have much broader applications in many technical fields other than physics, e.g., engineering, industrial research/development, and even economics/finances or mathematical biology. This course, and its companion course PHYS 220 "Introduction to Computational Physics", are crucial prerequisites for the rest of the undergraduate Physics curriculum. | |||||||||
| Student Learning Outcomes | You learn, --how to solve standard mathematical text book problems analytically --how to apply mathematical concepts to physical problems and to the sciences in general --limitations of analytically solvable mathematical problems and the need for computational methods --the most essential mathematical tools required for the theoretical physics courses ahead of you |
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Homework |
Richard Feynman
(Nobel prize, 1965) "You don't understand anything until
you have practiced" Homework (11 assignments, each counting 100pts) will be assigned weekly and will be due by 2pm on the following Wednesday/Friday, unless explicitely altered at the time of assignment. Late homework will not be accepted. Homework can be turned in at the beginning of class. You can earn 100 bonus points in the homework by giving a 10min presentation to class on a topic related to class, for example the life of a mathematician/physicist, an application of a mathematical concept - discussed in class - to a particular physics/science problem, etc in case of issues with the homework link use: ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/wacker/CLASS/301.html |
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| Examinations | Two
one-hour in-term examinations and a two hour final
examination will be
held during the semester. In-term exams will be held in the
classroom.
The exams will be closed books and closed notes. No
calculators,
computers, or communication devices are allowed.
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| Grading |
The
maximum score for each homework will be 100 points. A
solution
(homework, exam) that presents nothing more than a
restatement of the
problem will receive zero credit. illegible
work will not be graded. To
pass the course with a grade higher than an "F", you
need 40% of the
total credits. Grades A - D are assigned equal weight
(units of 15%) for total credits between 40% and 100%.
+/- are assigned 2.5% from grade boundary. So
A+
(>97.5), A(>87.5), A- (>85), B+(>82.5),
B(>72.5), B-
(>70), C+ (>67.5), C (>57.5), C- (>55), etc.
For the final
grade homework, exams, will be weighted as follows:
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| Course policies | Attendance at lectures is expected. Active class participation, questions are extremely welcome in the lectures. A missed exam will receive 0 credit unless the instructor is notified by email, phone, etc before the exam starts. Make-up exams will be individually scheduled with the student. | |||||||||
| Student Obligations | As
students of UAF, you are bound by the policies and
regulations of the
University of Alaska, UAF rules and procedures, and the
Student Honor
Code. You are obligated to make yourselves familiar with all
conditions
presented in the UAF Catalog. Plagiarism on homework or
on an exam will result in a failing grade. |
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| Student protection and services statement |
Student
protections statement: UAF embraces and grows a culture of
respect,
diversity, inclusion, and caring. Students at this
university are
protected against sexual harassment and discrimination
(Title IX).
Faculty members are designated as responsible employees
which means
they are required to report sexual misconduct. Graduate
teaching
assistants do not share the same reporting obligations. For
more
information on your rights as a student and the resources
available to
you to resolve problems, please go to the following
site:
https://catalog.uaf.edu/academics-regulations/students-rights-responsibilities/. Disability services statement: I will work with the Office of Disability Services to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities. Student Academic Support: Speaking Center (907-474-5470, uaf-speakingcenter@alaska.edu, Gruening 507) Writing Center (907-474-5314, uaf-writing-center@alaska.edu, Gruening 8th floor) UAF Math Services, uafmathstatlab@gmail.com, Chapman Building Developmental Math Lab, Gruening 406 The Debbie Moses Learning Center at CTC (907-455-2860, 604 Barnette St, Room 120, https://www.ctc.uaf.edu/student-services/student-success-center/) For more information and resources, please see the Academic Advising Resource List (https://www.uaf.edu/advising/lr/SKM_364e19011717281.pdf) Student Resources: Disability Services (907-474-5655, uaf-disability-services@alaska.edu, Whitaker 208) Student Health & Counseling [6 free counseling sessions] (907-474-7043, https://www.uaf.edu/chc/appointments.php, Whitaker 203) Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities (907-474-7317, uaf-studentrights@alaska.edu, Eielson 110) Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF) or ASUAF Student Government (907-474-7355, asuaf.office@alaska.edu, Wood Center 119) Nondiscrimination statement: The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University's commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA's statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination. For more information, contact: UAF Department of Equity and Compliance, 355 Duckering Building, 907-474-7300, uaf-deo@alaska.edu |