INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Weldon Wilson                                                                                                               OFFICE: Howell Hall 118 A11
OFFICE HOURS: MTRF 11:00–12:00, or by prior arrangement                                                                     TEL: 974-5470
EMAIL: wwilson@ucok.edu                                                                                                                            FAX: 330-3824

SYNOPSIS This course is an introduction to mathematical physics for sophomore and junior-level physics, chemistry, engineering and applied mathematics majors. It is intended for students who have completed one year of calculus and one year of a calculus-based university physics course. Its purpose is to develop a basic competence in the areas of applied mathematics that are most often used in the upper level courses in physics, chemistry, and engineering. The emphasis will be on the application of mathematical concepts to systems of physical interest. The course will cover applications of the following mathematics to systems of interest to engineering and physics.

PREREQUISITES The minimum prerequisites for this course is MATH 2185 (Calculus II), and PHY 2114 (Physics for Scientists and Engineers II), or permission of instructor. It is better to have also taken one or both of MATH 2203 (Calculus III) and MATH 3103 (Differential Equations) depending on individual math aptitude. An ability to use differential and integral calculus – i.e., taking derivatives, deciding how to write differential elements, what variable to integrate over, and choosing appropriate limits of integration is expected.

TEXTBOOK Advanced Engineering Mathematics, 8^th Ed., by Erwin Kreyszig, 1999, John Wiley & Sons.

HOMEWORK Physics is a subject that can be learned only by doing many exercises and problems. Moreover, the examinations will consist of problems similar to those at the end of each chapter of your textbook. For this reason, problem assignments from the text will be made. These homework assignments will be collected at the start of the period on the date they are due. The homework will be graded and forms a significant portion of the grade received for the course. Late homework will not be accepted for any reason.

Homework solutions should be neatly written on standard notebook-size (8.5" x 11") paper using one side only and each problem should be started on a new page. It is helpful if the pages are stapled together. For full credit, your homework problem solutions should (1) clearly state the principle of physics and/or formula being used, (2) show substitution of numerical values with associated units into formula, (3) show cancellation of units explicitly, and (4) have a clearly marked final answer with units.

OFFICE HOURS Official hours are listed above, but I am usually around from 9–4 each day during the week whenever I am not teaching class. Please feel free to come by any time especially if you want to talk about physics or school. I would ask you, however, to avoid the hour just before class if at all possible.

HOUR EXAMS There will be two one-hour exams given on the days indicated in the attached class schedule. Makeup exams will not be given for any reason. Part 2 of the Final will count twice its normal value for those students who have missed any exam during the semester. If you miss more than one exam, then Part 2 of the final will count three times its normal value to make up for the missed exams.

FINAL EXAM A comprehensive final exam will be given on the scheduled date for this course – Tuesday, December 14 @ 7:30–9:20 PM. The final exam cannot be given early or late to accommodate individual schedules. The final will consist of two parts. The first hour will be over material since the last hour exam and, in effect, be a third hour exam. The second part will consist of problems covering material that you have been tested over previously. Students who miss the final exam should contact their instructor as soon as possible and no later than the last day of finals week to schedule a makeup exam.

EXAM FORMAT Each exam will consist of problems similar to those at the end of each section of the textbook, those worked as examples in class, or those assigned for homework. Twenty-five percent of the problems on each exam will be either an example worked in your text, an example presented in lecture, or one of the assigned homework problems. All exams will be open book but closed notes. Calculators are not allowed on exams.

GRADES Grades will be class curved with a target class GPA of ~2.8 but in no event will the curve be stricter than the straight curve listed below or lower than the lowest curve shown below. While the typical class grade distribution is based on previous classes, it or may not be achieved in any given class in a particular semester and is in no sense guaranteed.

                                    Typical Class Curves Range 
         Points                 Straight Curve     Lowest Curve     Typical Grade Distribution
Exam #1   100 (16.2%)             A (Above 90%)     A (Above 75%)     A (~25% of Class)
Exam #2   100 (16.2%)             B (81% – 90%)     B (61% – 74%)     B (~40% of Class)
Homework  200 (33.3%)             C (71% – 80%)     C (50% – 60%)     C (~35% of Class) 
Final     200 (33.3%)             D (60% – 70%)     D (40% – 49%)     D/F (~0% of Class) 
Total     600 (100%)              F (Below 60%)     F (Below 40%)

Keep up with the material on a day-to-day basis. If there is something that you do not understand, ask your study partners or your instructor immediately. Letting a topic slide for a few days is a prescription for failure. DON’T GET BEHIND.

ATTENDANCE You are expected to attend each class ready to begin at 7:30 PM. Excessive late arrival, early departures, or absences will result in your grade being lowered. If you do happen to miss a day, you are responsible for getting the notes and assignments from someone else in the class.

COMPUTER A developing fluency with the use of computers is expected. Time permitting, I will be placing lecture notes and other materials on our course web page at

SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Equity Officer Brad Morelli at ext. 2573, or see me after class as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
 
 

PHY 3884 – Mathematical Physics I Approximate Class Schedule
WEEK	DATE	LECTURE TOPIC
#1	T – AUG 24 R – AUG 26	Introduction/Vectors Vector Algebra Scalar Multiplication Vector Products
#2	T – AUG 31 R – SEP 2	Vector Application Matrices Determinants Linear Systems
#3	T – SEP 7 R – SEP 9	Matrix Multiplication Inverse of a Matrix Gauss Elimination Special Matrices
#4	T – SEP 14 R – SEP 16	Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors of Matrices Triple Vector Product Non-orthogonal Coordinate Systems Applications - Rotations and Motion
#5	T – SEP 21 R – SEP 23	EXAM #1 Vector Calculus Curvature and Torsion Polar Coordinates
#6	T – SEP 28 R – SEP 30	Motion in Polar Coordinates  Cylindrical Coordinates Spherical Coordinates Vector Fields
#7	T – OCT 5 R – OCT 7	Gradient  Physical Interpretation of the Gradient Gradient in Other Coordinate Systems Curvilinear Coordinates
#8	T – OCT 12 R – OCT 14	Spherical Coordinates  Vector Calculus Identities Vector Operators in Curvilinear Coordinates Work and Line Integrals
#9	T – OCT 19 R – OCT 21	Line Integrals and Conservative Vector Fields  Line Integrals Independent of Path Potential Theory Surfaces
#10	T – Oct 26 R – Oct 28	Flux  Divergence Divergence Theorem Applications of the Divergence Theorem
#11	T – NOV 2 R – NOV 4	Stokes Theorem  Applications of Stokes Theorem Dirac Delta "Function" Applications of Dirac Delta Function
#12	T – NOV 9 R – NOV 11	EXAM #2 Introduction to ODE's  1st Order ODE's - Exact Equations Simple ODE's arising in Mechanics
#13	T – NOV 16 R – NOV 18	General 1st Order Linear ODE's Factorable ODE's  Review of Complex Numbers Functions of a Complex Variable
#14	T – NOV 23 R – NOV 25	Standard Complex Functions Linear, Constant Coefficient ODE's NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY ! NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY !
#15	T – NOV 30 R – DEC 2	Linear ODE's with Forcing Term Method of Undetermined Coefficients\ Introduction to Fourier Series Series Solutions to ODE's
#16	T – DEC 7 R – DEC 9	Method of Frobenius  Laplace Transform Laplace Transform Solution of ODE's Examples
#17	T – DEC 14	FINAL EXAM – 7:30-9:20 PM