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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2010/2011
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Physics and Astronomy : Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy)

Undergraduate Course: Mathematics for Physics 3 (PHYS08037)

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 This course is designed for pre-honours physics students, to learn linear algebra, multivariate calculus, and the use of simple differential equations to describe basic concepts in physics. The course consists of an equal balance between lectures to present new material, and workshops to develop understanding, familiarity and fluency.
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Physics 1A: Foundations (PHYS08016) AND ( Applicable Mathematics 1+2 (Physics) (MATH08049) AND Mathematical Methods 1+2 (Physics) (MATH08050)) OR ( Practical Calculus (MATH08001) AND Solving Equations (MATH08002) AND Geometry & Convergence (MATH08003) AND Group Theory: An Introduction to Abstract Mathematics (MATH08004))
Co-requisites Students MUST also take: Physics 2A: Forces, Fields & Potentials (PHYS08022)
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Applicable Mathematics 4 (Phys Sci) (MATH08017) OR Mathematical Methods 4 (Phys Sci) (MATH08018) OR Applicable Mathematics 3 (Phys Sci) (MATH08015) OR Mathematical Methods 3 (Phys Sci) (MATH08016)
Other requirements For Fast Track students: SCE Advanced Higher or A Level Physics and Mathematics at A Grade or equivalent.
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites None
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? No
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
King's BuildingsLecture2-11 13:10 - 14:50or 14:00 - 15:50
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 09:00 - 09:50
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 11:10 - 12:00
King's BuildingsLecture1-11 13:10 - 13:50
King's BuildingsTutorialWorkshop (Group 1)2-11 14:00 - 15:50or 14:00 - 15:50
King's BuildingsTutorialWorkshop (Group 2)2-11 13:10 - 14:50or 14:00 - 15:50
First Class Week 1, Tuesday, 11:10 - 12:00, Zone: King's Buildings. Lecture Theatre B
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours:Minutes Stationery Requirements Comments
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Mathematics for Physics 33:002 x 12 sides
Resit Exam Diet (August)3:002 x 12 sides
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course it is intended that student will be able to
&ˇ Demonstrate understanding and work with real vector spaces, vector products, and expansion in an orthonormal basis, and apply to static problems from classical mechanics.
&ˇ Demonstrate understanding and work with matrices including inverses, determinants, and diagonalization, and apply these in static mechanics (eg stress and strain).
&ˇ Demonstrate understanding and work with complex vectors, hermitian and unitary matrices, and apply these to simple examples in quantum mechanics (eg two state systems)
&ˇ Demonstrate understanding and work with multivariate calculus, the chain rule, Taylor expansions, maxima, minima and saddles, curves and surfaces in 3-d, polar co-ordinates, with usual physics examples (eg stability).
&ˇ Demonstrate understanding and work with ordinary differential equations, homogenous and inhomogeneous, first order and second order, the harmonic oscillator (free, damped and forced), with examples from classical mechanics.
&ˇ Demonstrate understanding of energy, momentum and angular momentum conservation, and apply it to problems involving tops, gyroscopes and orbits with central forces
&ˇ Demonstrate understanding and work with coupled oscillators and expansion in normal modes, with examples from classical mechanics and quantum mechanics
&ˇ Demonstrate understanding and work with the simplest partial differential equations: the vibrating string and one dimensional waves.
Assessment Information
20% coursework
80% examination
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Statics
1. real vectors, bases, orthogonality, expansion in basis, change of basis, dot and cross products, scalar and vector triple products, all with examples from classical mechanics and electrostatics; matrices and matrix algebra, rank, inverse, determinants, eigenvalues and
eigenvectors, diagonalization, applications in mechanics (possibly coupled oscillators); complex vectors, hermitian and unitary matrices, simple examples in quantum mechanics;
2. Elementary multivariate calculus; partial derivatives, chain rule, Taylor expansions, maxima, minima and saddles, curves and surfaces in 3-d, polar co-ordinates, with usual physics examples.

Dynamics
1. ordinary differential equations, homogenous and inhomogeneous, first order, integrating factor, second order, harmonic oscillator (free, damped and forced), solution by series, with examples from classical mechanics. Angular momentum, conservation, tops, orbits for
central forces. Coupled oscillators, normal modes. Introduction to partial differential equations: vibrating string, 1-d wave equation, d&ŠAlembert.
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
Keywords MfP3
Contacts
Course organiser Dr Brian Pendleton
Tel: (0131 6)50 5241
Email: b.pendleton@ed.ac.uk
Course secretary Miss Leanne O'Donnell
Tel: (0131 6)50 7218
Email: l.o'donnell@ed.ac.uk
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copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 31 January 2011 8:13 am