Physics 374 Intermediate Theoretical Methods

Fall 2010

Professor Wolfgang Losert

 

Syllabus 

 

“Introduces or reviews areas of mathematics that are regularly used in upper level and graduate courses in physics, including important areas from complex variables, Fourier analysis, partial differential equations and eigenvalue problems. These methods will be studied in the context of relevant physics applications. A current standard symbolic manipulation program will be introduced and its appropriate use in theoretical analyses will be taught. “

Prerequisites: PHYS273 and MATH246. Corequisite: MATH240

 

Professor:  Wolfgang Losert,  wlosert@umd.edu    3359 AV Williams Bldg, 301-405-0629 

Office hours:   -  1 pm-2 pm Tuesday;  2pm - 3pm  Thursday 

                          -  email to make an appointment at other times. 

 

Lecture

Mon        11:00am - 11.50am

Tu.Th     11:00am - 12:15pm (PHY 1410), Physics Building

 

    Teaching Assistant :  TBA

Required Textbook:   Snieder, A guided Tour of Mathematical Methods for the Physical Sciences ISBN 0-521-83492-9

ONLINE Lecture Materials and grades:  http://www.elms.umd.edu (access with your University password, already set up )

 

Grading

Homework                                  30%

Quizzes/class participation       10%

2 Midterm Exams:                      15% each

Final Exam                                  30% 

 

Homework

Weekly web based homework assignments usually due Mondays at 10.50 am. 

Quizzes/class participation

You will need to complete a short quiz at the start of some lectures.  You will have opportunities for class participation.

 

Midterm Exams

There will be two 75 minute in class midterm exams, scheduled for: Thursday, October 7 and Thursday November 11 These exams will have questions similar to the homework and quizzes. Each counts 15% toward your course grade.

Final Exams

There will be a 2 hour final exam.  The final exam is cumulative.  It is scheduled for Monday, Dec 13  8:00am-10:00 am

 

To request a regrade of an exam please submit a clear explanation of the issue and a copy of your exam.  Do not write directly on the exam - the exam will be compared to my scanned copy.  

 

Honor Code

The University of Maryland, College Park has a nationally recognized  Code of Academic Integrity, administered by the Student Honor Council.   This Code sets standards for academic integrity at Maryland for all  undergraduate and graduate students.  As a student you are responsible for upholding these standards for this course.  It is very important for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication, facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.shc.umd.edu.

 

Examples of violations of the honor code include copying homework solutions from classmates or webpages.

 

Copyright note:  lectures and course matter are copyright protected and written instructor consent must be obtained for reproduction and distribution of lecture notes and course material, especially for commercial use.

 

Tentative Schedule as of 8/16/2010