640-356 Theoretical Methods for Physics

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

620-231 Vector Analysis, 620-232 Mathematical Methods, and no less than 31.25 points of 200 level physics subjects which must include 640-223 or 640-243, 640-225 or 640-245, and 640-226 or 640-246.

(For subjects completed prior to 1998, the Mathematics and Statistics departmental code 620- should be replaced by the superseded Mathematics departmental code 618-)

Pre/corequisites

640-321 or 640-341, and 640-322 or 640-342.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject will provide students with:

• comprehension of how physics problems are formulated, analysed and solved using a wide range of theoretical methods;
• an ability to apply these methods to a wide range of physical situations;
• a grounding in relevant theoretical methods for those with an experimental orientation.

This subject provides an introduction to:

• Linear systems: signals and noise, time and frequency representation, linear response in electronics, natural modes of coupled systems, Fourier and Laplace transform techniques. Stability and causality.
• Potential theory for electrostatics, magnetostatics and gravitation in 2 and 3 dimensions: solution by functions of a complex variable, Bessel and Legendre functions, Green functions.
• Waves and diffusion in 1, 2 and 3 dimensional continuous and discrete spaces: strings, lattices, drum skins, acoustics and heat conduction, Fick's law.
• Symmetry in physical systems: Cartesian tensors in elasticity, optics and electromagnetism. Notions of groups and group representations.

Assessment

A 2.5 hour end-of-semester written examination, plus tests and/or assignments, set during the semester, which may account for up to 20% of the final mark.