Undergraduate Course: Foundations of Mathematical Physics (PHYS08024)
This course will be closed from 31 July 2011
Course Outline
| School | School of Physics and Astronomy |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Provides an introduction to Mathematical Physics for all single-honours Physics students. Essential mathematical techniques are developed and deployed in the context of physical problems, thus consolidating and integrating Mathematics and Physics. The content includes ordinary differential equations and particle dynamics, central forces, coupled oscillators, vectors and bases, tensors and eigenvectors, scalar and vector fields, vector calculus, potential theory. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1)understand vectors and use for physical quantities;define scalar,vector products;vector equns for points,lines,planes
2)understand vector spaces,linear independence,dimensionality,basis vectors
3)use suffix notation,summation convention,Kronecker delta,Levi-Civita symbols
4)state transformation properties of vectors & scalars under change of basis
5)define Cartesian tensors of rank>1;give physical examples
6)compute inertia tensor of systems of point masses,solid bodies
7)understand eigenvalues,eigenvectors;compute principal moments of inertia & axes
8)diagonalise symmetric 2nd-rank tensors;understand degeneracy & relation to symmetry
9)understand vector & scalar field,level surfaces,flow lines
10)define gradient,directional derivative,div,curl,Laplacian;use vector operator identities,divergence & Stokes' theorems
11)define line,surface,volume integrals
12)Solve:linear 1st order differential equns(DEs) dy/dx=F(x,y); F separable or linear in y;linear 2nd order homogeneous and inhomogeneous DEs (constant coeffs)
13)Understand simple harmonic oscillator incl damping & sinusoidal driving forces;resonance.Classify solutions
14)Solve coupled linear DEs for >1 variable
15)Transform between e.g.Cartesian & polar coordinates
16)Set up dynamics DEs using Newton's 2nd Law
17)Linearise equns of motion
18)Formulate & solve DEs describing:motion with linear resistive forces in 1D & 2D;oscillatory systems incl simple & compound pendula;masses on springs
19)Set up & solve central force orbits;understand angular momentum & conservation
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Assessment Information
Degree Examination, 85%
Coursework, 15% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | FoMP |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Murphy
Tel: (0131 6)50 5285
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Leanne O'Donnell
Tel: (0131 6)50 7218
Email: |
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