Physics 255 - Mathematical Techniques for Physicists

Spring Semester, 2006-2007

Go straight to the syllabus.

Physicists use a lot of mathematics, but they don't often have the time or inclination to study mathematics in careful and thorough detail with a level of rigor deemed appropriate by mathematicians. This course is designed for physics students who need to know how to apply mathematical tools to a variety of physical situations but cannot or do not want to take a sequence of mathematics courses where the material is introduced at a slower and more detailed pace.

CLASS INFORMATION:

• Meeting time: MWF 9:00-9:50 AM
• Meeting room: Masters 208

OFFICE AND OFFICE HOURS:

• Office: Masters 215
• Office hours: MWF 8:00-9:00, 10:00-11:00, and by appointment

TELEPHONE NUMBER AND E-MAIL:

• Telephone: 337-6021
• E-mail: jfink@gettysburg.edu
• WWW page: http://cs.gettysburg.edu/~jfink/courses/ph255.html

EXAM DATES:

• Exam 1: Wednesday, February 14
• Exam 2: Wednesday, March 21
• Exam 3: Friday, April 20
• Final Exam: Tuesday, May 8, 1:30-4:30 PM

PREREQUISITES:

• Physics 211 and Mathematics 112 (grades of C or better)
• It is also recommended that you have taken Mathematics 211 or that you take it concurrently.

TEXTBOOK:

• Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences, 3rd edition, by Mary L. Boas
  ISBN 0-471-19826-9
• The second edition may also be used. Just be careful to do the correct homework problems.

COURSE CONTENT:

• Topics from Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13
• Detailed syllabus

GRADING POLICY:

• Your grade will be determined by your scores on the following:
  • homework (20%);
  • three exams (15% each);
  • final exam (25%);
  • class attendance and participation (10%).
• ***There will be no make-up exams and late work will not be accepted.***

HOMEWORK:

• Homework will be assigned, collected, and graded.
• Assignments may include material that will not be discussed in class. You are expected to learn this material on your own and to make use of the resources available to you to complete the assignments.
• Grading will be based both on mathematical content and on the quality of your write-up. NEATNESS COUNTS! Show all work necessary to justify your solutions. Answers alone are not sufficient.
• You may work with other students on the homework; in fact, I encourage that. However, your write-up should be your own.
• Working problems is essential for an understanding of the material, and there are plenty of additional problems in the textbook.
• Here are instructions for writing up your homework.

ATTENDANCE:

• Prompt and regular attendance is required and roll will be taken.
• If you have 3 or fewer absences, you will receive an A for class attendance.
• Your class-attendance grade will be reduced one letter grade for each unexcused absence over 3.
• Note that this class begins at 9:00 AM.