Instructor:
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Michel
Pleimling
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| Email: |
Michel.Pleimling@vt.edu
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| Office: |
Robeson 221 |
| Phone: |
(540) 231-2675
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Office hours:
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Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 2.30 -
3.30 p.m., and by appointment
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Lectures:
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Monday, Wednesday: 5.30 -
6.45 p.m., Robeson 122
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Homework:
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Three to four problems
(plus sporadically additional bonus problems)
will be assigned each Wednesday. Solutions are due one week later in
class
(unless otherwise noted).
Teamwork in solving these problems is encouraged, but
solutions must be handed in separately. Your solutions will be graded,
and
sample solutions will be provided.
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Grader:
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TBA
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First midterm exam:
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Wednesday, September 23, 5.30 - 6.45 p.m.
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Second midterm exam:
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Wednesday, October 28, 5.30 - 6.45 p.m.
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Final exam:
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Friday, December 11, 7.00 - 9.00 p.m.
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All are closed-books exams. The honor code pertains to all three
in-class exams.
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Grade distribution:
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30 % homework, 20 % each midterm exam, 30 % final exam
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Required textbook:
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Mary L. Boas, Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences,
Third Edition (Wiley 2006)
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Topics include:
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1. Coordinate systems in Physics
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2. Physical applications of linear algebra
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3. Mathematical foundations of the theory of electricity and magnetism
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4. Making physical approximations using series
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5. Maximum and minimum problems in Physics
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6. Solving equations of motion and other differential equations
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7. Multiple integrals in Physics
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8. Using probability theory in Physics
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