FF502: Physics and mathematics: methods and models (20 ECTS)

STADS: 07008901

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course begins in the autumn semester and continues in the spring semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: frandsen@cp3.dias.sdu.dk
Email: ryttov@cp3.dias.sdu.dk
Email: jessica@imada.sdu.dk
Email: zqex@sdu.dk

Additional teachers
dkyed@imada.sdu.dk
permorgen@sdu.dk

Timetable
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Comment:
Kurset forsætter i 3. kvartal.

Prerequisites:
None

Academic preconditions:
None

Course introduction
The overall goal of the course is to bridge the gap between basic mathematical techniques and their applications within science, physics in particular. In the physics part of the course, the students learn to use physical laws to formulate mathematical models, solve these models and evaluate the results with due attention paid to the limitations of the models. The students will furthermore carry out experimaents that illustrate the theory, and learn to interpret the results.

The mathematical part of the course will train the students to deal with scientific models by identifying and applying the relevant mathematical methods, including mathematical symbolic language and logical arguments.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course, the student is expected to:

• Model a number of physical systems using mathematical formalism.
•  Apply methods and results from calculus to analyze and explain the behavior of the models presented during the course.
• Formulate and, using a mathematical symbolic language, carry out arguments relating to mathematical problems within the syllabus of the course.
• Solv mathematical problems within the syllabus of the course.

Subject overview
Topics covered in mathematics:

• The concept of a function.
• Differentiation and integration of functions of one and several variables.
• Differential equations.
• Vector calculus and curve and suface integrals.
• The theorems of Gauss, Green and Stokes.

Topics covered in physics:

•  Newton's laws applied to simple examples.
• Conservation laws for energy, momentum and angular momentum.
• A charged particle in a magnetic field: the Lorentz force and its application to mass spectrometry.
• Continuous mass distribution, rigid bodies, rotation and vibration.
• Light and sound.
• Fluid dynamics.
• Thermonynamical laws, thermodynamical potentials and thermodynamics applied to selected problems.
• Diffusion in a force field with applications to electroforesis.

Experiments:
Four experiments underpin and exemplify the theoretical syllabus. The experiments deal with rotating bodies, the vibrating string, the ideal gas and diffusion. 

Literature

• Richard Wolfson: Essential University Physics, 2nd edition (specialudgave – kan kun købes i boghandlen).
• R.A. Adams: Calculus I, a complete course, 8th edition, Pearson/Addison-Wesley, Toronto, 2010.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:

1. Mandatory assignments. Pass / fail with internal assessment by the teacher, 4 ECTS. Spring
2. Laboratory exercises. Pass / fail with internal assessment by the teacher, 1 ECTS. Autumn
3. Laboratory exercises. Pass / fail with internal assessment by the teacher, 1 ECTS. Spring
4. Project. Using the 7-point scale with internal assessment, 3 ECTS. Spring.
5. Project. Using the 7-point scale with internal assessment, 3 ECTS. Spring.
6. Written examination. Using the 7-point scale with internal assessment, 8 ECTS. Autumn.

Reexamination in the same exam period or immediately thereafter

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 80 hours
Skills training phase: 100 hours, hereof:
 - Tutorials: 80 hours
 - Laboratory exercises: 20 hours

Educational activities Study phase: 30 hours

Language
This course is taught in Danish or English, depending on the lecturer. However, if international students participate, the teaching language will always be English.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.