- Department: Physics
- Module co-ordinator: Dr. Matt Hodgson
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
- See module specification for other years: 2022-23
Pre-requisite modules
Co-requisite modules
Prohibited combinations
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Autumn Term 2021-22 to Summer Term 2021-22 |
The theory underpinning much of physics is expressed in terms of fields, continuous variables whose evolution is governed by partial differential equations (PDEs), e.g. electromagnetism: Maxwell's equations; quantum mechanics: Schrodinger's equation; fluid dynamics: Euler's equations or the Navier Stokes equations etc. Many important processes in continuum physics, for example those involving diffusion, heat flow and wave motion, are described by PDEs. Simpler problems can sometimes be solved analytically but, more normally, problems of interest require numerical solution. For the solution of such simulations to have meaning, results must replicate accurately the outcome of a real physical experiment or process. The main aims of the first part of this module are to introduce (i) the general properties of partial differential equations and (ii) the finite difference method for the solution of partial differential equations. These computational methods are powerful additions to the theoretician's toolkit. The theory developed in this part of the module is linked to computer experiments undertaken in an extended assignment.
The second part of the module extends calculus to functions of a complex variable, an elegant and useful topic in theoretical physics and beyond. In particular, it allows some integrations required in physics to be performed using a technique known as contour integration.
The third part of the module covers the calculus of variations, its applications to physics, shows the importance of Laplace's equation in physics and solves the equation in the common coordinate systems. In the course of solving Laplace's equation, Bessel's and Legendre's equations will be derived and the solutions of these equations explored. Examples of these equations from several branches of physics will be introduced.
The ideas in this module will be developed further through a number of computational related activities focusing on skills, e.g. peer reviewed and oral presentations, group seminars and individual articles.
Transferable skills have been embedded within the undergraduate programmes to align departmental teaching with the Employability Strategy and York Pedagogy, and to create a distinctive York graduate. But it is vital that students have an opportunity to reflect on the intellectual, practical and transferable skills gained during their degree, in order to appreciate how the education provided develops their employability.
It is important that students can evidence skills; for example the ability to work independently and/or in groups, tackle open-ended problems and communicate the outcomes succinctly in unfamiliar environments. It is also important that students appreciate how these skills and experiences developed both via participation with the programme and through engagement with other aspects of university life, and can map these to essential qualities required by potential employers and postgraduate programmes.
This module provides practical training and includes a team activity related to a programme specific open-ended physics problem, and two individual recorded presentations on a programme specific physics topic. It also prompts students to reflect on skills gained during their degree and to articulate how those skills have developed their employability by mapping these to potential career sectors. This is facilitated by workshops, the Physics Careers Event and the completion of a related pro-forma. Work culminates in the production of a CV and an application letter reflecting the skills and experiences which support application to a job sector or postgraduate programme.
Discuss the general properties of second order partial differential equations and classify these as elliptic, parabolic or hyperbolic
Write down finite differences for first and second order derivatives
Derive finite difference equations for simple linear PDEs (especially the diffusion and wave equations) using a variety of explicit and implicit schemes
Program the finite difference scheme
Test whether a function of a complex variable is analytic
Expand complex functions in Taylor or Laurent expansions
Determine the residue of the function with respect to a singularity
Evaluate contour integrals for a variety of functions and contours
Take the principal value of integrals with poles on the real axis
Make simple applications of contour integration to physics problems
Find the maxima and minima of many variable functions subject to constraints
Apply Euler-Lagrange methods to optimisation problems
Formulate some physics problems in terms of a least action principle.
Show how Laplace's equation arises for a general vector field at points outside the sources of the field
Given expressions for the Laplacian in cylindrical or spherical polar co-ordinates, obtain separable solutions to Laplace's equation
Recognise Bessel's equation, Legendre's equation and Legendre's associated equation and follow the process of solving these equations by a series solution
Sketch the graphs of Jn(x) and Yn(x)
Identify the recurrence relations and orthogonality relations for Bessel functions.
Use the orthogonality relations to determine coefficients in Bessel function expansion and apply this to boundary value problems
Write down the solution of Legendre's equation in terms of Legendre polynomials and associated Legendre functions
Explain the orthogonality and other properties of Legendre polynomials
Show Rodrigues formula can be used to generate Legendre polynomials
Show how the associated Legendre equation can be solved starting with solutions of Legendre's equation.
Apply the techniques developed above to the solution of physical problems.
Demonstrate an ability to research and survey literature of a topic in computational physics.
Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively through a short formal oral presentation
Demonstrate an ability to work together in groups towards a common goal
Demonstrate an ability to write an abstract and an article based on information collected and synthesized, in an appropriate style and format
Syllabus
Part 1: Continuum Physics
Overview of Continuum Physics and PDEs
Finite difference method
Part 2: Complex Variable Techniques
Part 3: Variational Techniques, Differential Equations, and Special Functions
Skills Content (+training workshops and feedback sessions)
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Application letter |
N/A | 5 |
Essay/coursework CV and pro-forma |
N/A | 5 |
Essay/coursework Continuum Physics Assignment |
N/A | 25 |
Essay/coursework Peer review of presentation 1 |
N/A | 4 |
Essay/coursework Team exercise written report |
N/A | 5 |
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) Computational and Mathematical Techniques for Theoretical |
8 hours | 50 |
Oral presentation/seminar/exam Presentation 2 |
N/A | 6 |
None
The Continuum Physics assignment (22%) is set in November, and submitted in January. It is open-book, anonymous. Students study and use a provided code (in Python) to write a report.
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Application letter |
N/A | 5 |
Essay/coursework CV and pro-forma |
N/A | 5 |
Essay/coursework Continuum Physics Assignment |
N/A | 25 |
Essay/coursework Peer review of presentation 1 |
N/A | 4 |
Essay/coursework Team exercise written report |
N/A | 5 |
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) Computational and Mathematical Techniques for Theoretical |
8 hours | 50 |
Oral presentation/seminar/exam Presentation 2 |
N/A | 6 |
Our policy on how you receive feedback for formative and summative purposes is contained in our Department Handbook.
Computational and Mathematical Techniques
Kreyszig E: Advanced Engineering Mathematics (John Wiley) ***
Arfken G: Mathematical methods for physicists (Academic Press/Elsevier Science & Technology)**
Skills/general
Warburton N: The basics of essay writing (Taylor & Francis/Routledge)
Levin P: Write great essays! 2nd edition (McGraw Hill) 2009