PHYS213 - Waves and Oscillations

[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2004/2005

Waves and Oscillations
PHYS 213 FA

The properties of periodic motion recur in many areas of physics, including mechanics, quantum physics, and electricity and magnetism.
We will explore the physical principles and fundamental mathematics related to periodic motions. Focus topics will include damped and forced harmonic motion, normal modes, the wave equation, Fourier series and integrals, and complex analysis. The principles and techniques developed in this course are central to many subsequent courses, particularly quantum mechanics (PHYS214, 315) and electricity and magnetism (PHYS324). An important component of this course is to develop the ability to use mathematical software packages to graph expressions, solve equations, and obtain numerical solutions to differential equations.

MAJOR READINGS

A.P. French, VIBRATIONS AND WAVES or equivalent text

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly homework problems, a midterm, and final exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students who have taken PHYS113 and 116 are advised to continue with this as their next physics course.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: NSM PHYS Grading Mode: Student Option

Prerequisites: PHYS113 AND PHYS116

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Starr,Francis W.

Times: ..T.R.. 10:30AM-11:50AM; Location: SCIE58;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: UNL)

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Quantitative Reasoning

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005