The College of New Jersey
Department of Physics
Mathematical Methods in Physics
Dr Thulsi Wickramasinghe
Email: wick@tcnj.edu
Office: SC P110, Science Complex
Course Outline
The following gives an idea about the topics to be covered in lectures.
- Power series
- Complex numbers
- Linear equations, Matrices, Determinants
- Partial & ordinary differential equations
- Applications of integration
- Fourier series
- Tensors
- Special functions
- Integral transforms
Required Textbook
Mathematical Techniques for Physics and Engineering by
Riley, Hobson & Bence (Cambridge).
Some chapters and sections will be assigned as reading material.
The structure of the class is aimed at the level of the student
who is planning to enter graduate school in physics or any related field.
Attendance
Attending lectures is essential to do well in
the course. A substantial number of problems will
be solved in lectures. These problems will help you
do your homework effectively.
The examinations will be based upon homework
and the material discussed in lectures.
Problem Sets
There will be a substantial number of problem sets.
Computer project
A computer programming assignment will be assigned.
It is expected that the programming must be done
in
Mathematica.
Examinations
There will be midterm exams.
These examinations will not be cumulative.
The exact dates of these examinations will be announced later.
Policy of Examinations
Under no circumstances, may a student be
exempt from taking an examination. If you are
unable to take an examination, you will have to provide valid
written evidence (e.g. an original medical report
from a doctor or a letter from the college
Infirmary) of your inability to attend the
examination. Even though I give two series of
lectures for Astronomy 161, you should regard
these two as two independent courses; thus,
you will not be allowed to take an
examination with the students from the other section.
You are supposed to take no more than three exams
during a particular day. If such a conflict occurs,
you should first talk to the professor whose exam is the
latest in the day. He or she is obliged to give you
that particular exam at a different time.
Grading Policy
Your final grade will be calculated according to the
following tables. The highest score, after normalization or so called
curving, will be 100. Your letter grades will then be assigned.
| Examination I |
25% |
| Examination II |
25% |
| Homework |
50% |
| RANGE OF SCORE |
GRADE |
| 90 - 100 |
A |
| 85 - 89 |
A- |
| 80 - 84 |
B+ |
| 75 - 79 |
B |
| 70 - 74 |
B- |
| 65 - 69 |
C+ |
| 60 - 64 |
C |
| 50 - 59 |
C- |
| 45 - 49 |
D+ |
| 40 - 44 |
D |
| 00 - 39 |
F |
Office Hours
To be more effective, I will be keeping regular office hours.
How to contact me
The best way to contact me is through email.