Spring 2006 - PHYS 3392 - Mathematical Methods II

COURSE INFORMATION SHEET


COURSE
 DESCRIPTION
NAME
 PHYS 3392 - Mathematical Methods II - Fall 2006
LOCATION
 Room SETB 2.24; SETB Physics & Astronomy (UTB)
INSTRUCTOR
 Prof. Manuela Campanelli (Ph.D in Physics, Univ. of Bern CH)
Office: SETB 2.258
Phone: 882-6656
E-mail: manuela@phys.utb.edu
LEVEL
 Undergraduate sophomore and major in the Physics and Engineering Programs
PREREQUISITES / BACKGROUND Prerequisites: PHYS 3390 - Mathematical Methods I
Suggested Corequisites: Linear Algebra, Differential Equations;
Background: In case you are missing all or part of this background material you will need the professor consent prior registering to this course. You can test your preparation taking the following: Quiz1.pdf
TEXT BOOK
 The required book is " Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences" by Mary L. Boas, 2nd Edition by John Wiley &  sons;
Remark: The 3rd edition has been adopted as required text book for this course. The 2nd edition is also accepted provided that the student completes the missing text with personal notes.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
 The course will focus on selected topics from the following text book list:
Chapter  1- Infinite and Power Series;
Chapter  2 - Complex numbers;
Chapter  3 - Linear Equations, Vectors, Matrices and Determinants;
Chapter  4 - Partial Differentiation;
Chapter  5 - Multiple Integrals, Applications of Integration;
Chapter  6 - Vector Analysis;
Chapter  7 - Fourier Series;
Chapter  8 - Ordinary Differential Equations;
Chapter  9 - Calculus of Variations;
Chapter 10 - Coordinate Transformations; Tensor Analysis;
Chapter 11 - Gamma, Beta and error functions; Asymptotic series; Stirling's formula; elliptic integrals and functions;
Chapter 12 - Series solutions  of differential equations; Legendre polynomials; Bessel functions; sets of orthogonal functions;
Chapter 13 - Partial Differential equations;
Chapter 14 - Function of a complex variable;
Chapter 15 - Integral Transforms.
Remark:  The course will not focus on mathematical proofs but on the theory and practical applications of the course topics.
PROGRAM
 Selected topics from the  following chapter will be covered:
Chapter   9 - Calculus of Variations;
Chapter 10   - Coordinate Transformations;
Chapter 11 - Gamma, Beta and error functions; Asymptotic series; Stirling's formula; elliptic integrals and functions;
Chapter 12 - Series solutions  of differential equations; Legendre polynomials; Bessel functions; sets of orthogonal functions;
Chapter 13 - Partial Differential equations;
Chapter 14 - Function of a complex variable;
Chapter 15 - Integral Transforms.
Remark: Students will be responsible of reviewing all background material, including material covered in Chapter 1-5.
CLASSES  Time:Tuesday (TU) and Thursday (TH) at 1:40 - 2.55 pm starting from January, 2006;
Room: SETB 2.236;
Remark: We will typically see material contained in one chapter of the book every 2-5 classes and problems associated to that chapter will be given to be turn at the end of each chapter as homework; Attendance in lecture will not be taken, but is highly recommended;.
OFFICE HOURS
 Time: TU, TH 11:00-13:30am, and by appointment.  
Room: SETB 2.258
COMPETENCIES
 Reading:  Each student is responsible for all the assigned reading. Reading in this course means the ability to analyze and interpret the printed material, including the ability to understand the assigned problems. You will not be able to understand the problems and the exams if you do not properly read the text. Not all material can be covered during classes so reading is considered an important part of this course.
Critical Thinking: Students must be able to read and analyze a stated problem, determine the solution required, identify the needed data, select the appropriate physics theory, apply proper mathematical calculations and ultimately reach the result. Students will be given to demonstrate these skills on course homework and examinations. Students should be able to make observations and draw conclusions based upon these observations. Laboratory excersices require demonstration of these skills.
Computer Literacy: Students in this course should be able to use computers to solve simple mathematical problems. The students use computers of the laboratory activities both to collect the data and the analyze and solve assigned problems. Students will learn how to use programs for Algebraic manipulation Algebraic Manipulation Program such as Mathematica and/or Maple to solve selected problem. Successful completion of these lab activities indicate that the students have gained this competency. Students should be able to locate material relevant to the course on the course's own web site and using the world wide web search engines such as google .
HOMEWORK Assigned Reading and Problems associated to each chapter will be given to be turn the day after the end of each chapter. Homework is very important for this course. Students need to solve many problems in order to master this material and learn good problem-solving techniques. Late homework will not be accepted (except in very exceptional cases).
You are strongly encouraged to work together on the problems using the collaborative learning technique.  Group of students can meet and work together on problems provided that they do not copy but learn and solve together the problems. You will discover that, in the process of explaining physics to one another, you obtain a better understanding of the material yourself.
LABORATORY Time: TH ;
Room: SETB 2.218 (SPS lab);
Description: PHYS 3391 - Laboratory for Mathetmatical Methods - is associated to this course. The laboratory will be held twice a week and will focus on:
1) Review of topics related to the course 
2) Practical applications of all course materials and sample problems;
3) The use of Algebraic Manipulation Program such as Mathematica and/or Maple to solve selected problems;
4) Projects
Instructor: Alan Farrell (Phone: 882-6655; Email: farrell@phys.utb.edu);
Remark: The lab is a very important component of this course; attendance to the lab will be taken;
EXAMS
 MidTerm and Final Exam will consist of written examinations based on problems similar to homework and laboratory problems; Make-up exams and/or extra credit will not be given;
MidTerm : TBA Room SETB 2.24.
Final : TBA  Room SETB 2.24.
GRADES
 Your final grade will be based on homework (25%), lab (25%), midterm (25%) and final (25%).
Four  homework  sets, extracted among all homeworks, will contribute to the 25% of the grades.
Letter grades will be assigned to number grades as follows: A: 90-100, B: 80-89, C: 70-79, D: 60-69, F: 0-59.
STUDENTS
 Names:
1) Oropeza, Grabriela
2) Ramos, Jose M.
3) Resendez, Joe
4) Marc Cenac
Remark: Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class, should notify the Disability Services Office early in the semester so that the appropriate arrangements may be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodations must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Services counselor. For more information visit Disability Services in the Lightner Center, call 956-882-7374 or e-mail DisabilityServices@utb.edu

Note: This information sheet will be updated periodically and can be subject to changes (especially in the part of the homework assignements). Any comment or suggestion should be addressed directly to the Instructor .

HOMEWORK  Reading and Homework problems are assigned at the end of each Thursday's class, and are due at the beginning of next Tuesday's class.  

Class 1 (TU, Jan 17)  Introctuction and Syllabus
Class 2 (TH Jan 19)
 Class 3 (TU )
Class 4 (TH )
Class 5 (TU)
Class 6 (TH)
 		 HOMEWORK # 1:
1) Read Chapter 9:
2) Solve Problems:
Class 7 (TU)
Class 8 (TH)
Class 9 (TU)
Class 10 (TH)
HOMEWORK #2:
1) Read Chapter 10;
2) Solve Problems:
Class 11 (TU)
Class 12 (TH)
Class 13 (TU)
Class 14 (TH)
Class 15 (TU)
 HOMEWORK #3:
1) Read Chapter 11;
2) Solve Problems: 
 
Class 17 (TU March 9) MIDTERM 1 
Class 16 (TH)
Class 18 (TH)
Class 19 (TU)
Class 20 (TH)
Class 21 (TU)
Class 22 (TH)
 HOMEWORK #4:
1) Read Chapter 12;
3) Solve  Problems:
Class 23 (TU)
Class 24 (TH)
Class 25 (TU)
 HOMEWORK #5:
1) Read Chapter 13;
3) Solve  Problems: 
Class 26 (TH)
 Class 27 (TU)
Class 28 (TU):
Class 29 (TH):
 HOMEWORK #6:
              1) Read Chapter 14
              2) Solve Problems:  

 HOMEWORK #7:
1) Read Chapter 15  
2) Solve Problems:

HOMEWORK: review all material


Class 30 (TH April 27): FINAL EXAM