Mathematical Methods in Physics and Engineering, Spring quarter 2005:

Office hours: MWF: 3:30-4:30 and by appointment

Office: APM 5256, tel. 534-2734

Course material: Calculus of variations: Euler-Lagrange equations, Noether's theorem. Fourier analysis of functions and distributions in several variables. Partial differential equations: Laplace, wave, and heat equations; fundamental solutions (Green's functions); well-posed problems. We shall use the book `Mathematics of classical and quantum physics' by F.W. Byron and R.W. Fuller, at least at the beginning of the course. Here you can find notes on Fourier transforms:

Lindblad notes on Fourier transform

Computation of grade: Final: 40% Homeworks: 60%

Homeworks to be turned in on: 4/15, 4/29, 5/13, 5/27

Date of final: 6/6, 3-6pm

Homework assignments Homeworks need to be turned in on or before the listed day. Selected problems of the assignment will be graded. Here is homework assignment number 3.

homework 3

homework 4

Disclaimer: I will try to get the homework assignment on the net in time. Due to time and other limitations, this may not always be possible. The fact that there is no assignment posted for a particular date does therefore NOT necessarily mean that no homework is due.

for 4/15 : p80: 2 + problems on handout. Hint for problem 4(a): You may assume that the force acted by Earth on a particle of mass m and distance s < R (= radius of Earth) is equal to mgs/R. Use this to calculate the potential energy at disctance r.

CHANGE OF CLASS ROOM FOR FRIDAY, MAY 20: DUE TO QUALIFYING EXAMS, THE CLASS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE CALCULUS LAB APM 2402.