UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE

 

SYLLABUS Ð Summer 2004

 

 

PHYS 5931-1              Using Mathematica to Solve Physics Problems

                                    MW 06:00 Ð 08:29PM BAYOU 3324

 

INSTRUCTOR:          David Garrison

OFFICE:                     BAYOU 3531-2         

EMAIL:                       garrison@uhcl.edu

TELEPHONE:            281-283-3796

 

Course Description:    Using the program Mathematica as a tool for physics

 

Prerequisites:               None

 

Required:                     Mathematica for Physics 2nd Edition by Robert L. Zimmerman and Fredrick I. Olness

 

                                    Mathematica version 3.0 or later available through UHCL at http://software.uhcl.edu          

 

Recommended:            Any book of mathematical formulas and integration tables,

Example SchaumÕs Outlines: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables

 

Mathematica Tutorials

http://library.wolfram.com/conferences/devconf99/withoff/index2.html

 

Policies:

 

1.   Office Hours:      M W 5:00-6:00 pm and by appointment

 

2.   Measurements:    Weekly Assignments

 

3.   Grading:              The grade boundaries will be (whichever is lower):

 

A Ð 90% or more than one standard deviation above the mean

B Ð 80% or class average

C Ð 70% or one standard deviation below the mean

D Ð 65% or one and a half standard deviations below the mean

F Ð 60% or more than two standard deviations below the mean

 

Refined letter grade system, including Ò+Ó or Ò-Ò, will be used

 

4.   Honesty Code:     I will be honest in all my academic activities and will not tolerate dishonesty.

 

5.   Make-ups:           Make-up exams are not recommended.  If you know ahead of time that you will be unable to attend an exam, please let me know in advance so that we can make other arrangements.

 

6.   Disability Accommodation Statement:     If you are certified as disabled and are entitled to accommodation under the ADA Act., sec 503, please see the instructor as soon as possible.  If you are not currently certified and believe that you may qualify, please contact the Coordinator of Disabled Services, at 283-2627, in Health and Disability Services.

 

Week

Topic

Chapter(s)

1

Introduction to Mathematica

ZO1

2

General Physics

ZO2

3

Oscillating Systems

ZO3

4

Nonlinear Systems

ZO4

5

Discrete Systems

ZO5

6

Lagrangians and Hamiltonians

ZO6

7

No Class

 

8

Orbiting Bodies

ZO7

9

Electrostatics

ZO8

10

Quantum Mechanics

ZO9