Text Book: Mathematical Methods for Physicists, 4th edition, by George B. Arfken and Hans J. Weber
Course Description: The purpose of this course is to provide the mathematical tools necessary for doing physics. The emphasis will be on problem solving, so the lectures will deal with the structure of the mathematics involved rather than with formal proofs. About half of the course will be spent on solving problems and discussing solutions. I intend to cover most of the topics in the text book. This course is part of the preparation for the qualifying exam.
Instructor: Thomas Prellberg
Office: 243 Physics Building
Phone: (315) 443-3920
FAX: (315) 443-9103
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Fridays, 09:00AM - 010:00AM
Physics Department Office: 200 Physics Building, (315) 443-3901
Class Meeting Times: TTh 01:00PM - 02:20PM
Classroom: B126 Physics Building
Exams: There will be one midterm exam (in class, Oct 14) and a final exam (take-home, due Dec 16).
Homework: There will be regular homework assignments every week, which will be graded.
In class presentations: Students will be asked to present solutions to problems to the class. While these presentations will not be graded, a minimum of two presentations are required for passing.
Grading: The components of the course are weighted as follows: homework: 30%, midterm: 30%, final: 40%