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Academic Year 2004/2005

Chaos
PHYS 217 FA

This calculus based course provides an introduction to the third revolution of 20th-century physics: chaos. Chaos is everywhere. To name only a few examples, it permeates economics, biology, political science, chemistry and physics. The course involves a serious introduction to computational methods for revealing and characterizing chaos in model systems.

MAJOR READINGS

Roderick Jensen, "Classical Chaos", AMERICAN SCIENTIST 75 (March-April), 168 (1987)
Steven Strogatz, NONLINEAR DYNAMICS AND CHAOS (1994)

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Problem sets, quizzes, one final paper.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

You must have had physics with calculus. This course, along with PHYS215, can provide an entry point into the Physics major for exceptionally well prepared students.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: .5    Gen Ed Area Dept: NSM PHYS    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005

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