Key Features:

• Recommended for Sophomores or Juniors, but Seniors are also welcome.
• Students need not be in Lyman Briggs to take this class.
• May be used to fulfill one of the math electives for Physics majors.
• Provides useful background to the upper-level Quantum, E&M, and Thermo courses.
• Honors options are available.

Content:

Mathematical methods as applied to physical problems in electromagnetism, mechanics, and thermodynamics. Topics covered include power series expansions, Jacobians, vector calculus, Fourier series, method of Frobenius, ordinary and partial differential equations, eigenvector problems and coordinate transformations, and complex analysis. Applications include Newtonian mechanics, rigid body dynamics, heat and fluid flow, electrostatics, circuits, harmonic motion, and wave propagation. The course stresses group work and in-class problem-solving in order to facilitate mastery of the various techniques.

Prerequisites:

• Math: LB 220 or MTH 234 or MTH 254H (or concurrently)
• Physics: LB 271 or PHY 183 or PHY 293H and also 272 or PHY 184 or PHY 294H
• Recommended Background: MTH 235 or MTH 255H

Course Documents:

• Syllabus
• Schedule
• Course Project
• Textbook

Faculty:

• R. Sekhar Chivukula, Professor of Physics
  (E-Mail) (Website)
• Elizabeth H. Simmons, Professor of Physics and Dean of Lyman Briggs College
  (E-Mail) (Website)