Instructor: Dr.Tahsiri: Department of Physics & Astronomy
Office: PH2 210. Office Hours: Tues, Thurs: (12:00-1:00). Phone: 562-985-5502. E-mail: htahsiri@csulb.edu - htahsiri@cox.net.

Who should take this course: This course is designed for Physics, Math and Engineering students after their first course in physics, Engineers and scientists at professional levels with no previous knowledge of programming in "Mathematica".

Course Prerequisites: Calculus 1 and 2. Physics 151: Calculus base Mechanics and Heat. Physics 152: Calculus base Electricity and Magnetism can be taken concurrently with this course.

Course description:This course serves as a guide for using symbolic programming software (primarily "Mathematica" in this course) to enhance the problem-solving abilities of students in physics, engineering and mathematics. Just as the calculator eliminated laborious numerical computations, symbolic algebra programs eliminate tedious algebraic computations, thereby freeing up time for creative thinking. With Mathematica, you can perform numerical calculations and symbolic manipulations, as well as create sophisticated graphics and animations. You can use Mathematica's graphic tools to help visualize complex numerical and symbolic calculations. As a result, you can gain greater insight into the problem at hand. Mathematica is also a programming language that can be used to write traditional types of programs. In this course, Mathematica's commands, including graphics and/or animated representation, are fully explained.

Textbook:
1: Class notes handout. 2: " Mathematica", Shum's Outline.
Mathematica Computer Lab: We will meet in the computer lab to gain hands-on experience on the topics described in lectures.

Grading
Midterm 1 =20. Midterm 2 =20% .Final exam =30%. Mathematica Lab reports =30%

Material Covered: The exact material covered usually depends upon each class's interest and abilities; however, the basics will include :
1) Comparison between "Mathematica" and other popular programming languages as Basic, Pascal, C and Fortran.
2)"Mathematica": Mathematica and its commands; Mathematica notebooks; One, two, and three dimensional plotting; animations.
3) Error Analysis : Standard deviation; Error bars, Best fit; log-log plots.
4) Vectors: Dot, cross products; Gradient.
5) Coordinate System: Cartesian, spherical, and cylindrical coordinates; Maxima and minima; Conversion among coordinates; Curvilinear coordinates.
6) Derivative and Integration: Derivatives of a function of one or several variables; Line, Surface and Volume integrals; Work; Dirac delta function; Impulse,Center of gravity; Gravity; Variation of pressure with depth; Tourqu; Moment of inertia; Line, surface and voulume charge density; Gauss's law; Electric fields; Scalar potential; Biot-Savart law; Amper's law; Line and circular currents; Contour integration.7) Numerical Integration and solution to differential equations: Newton's laws; Air friction; 1d, 2d and 3d motion; Orbital motion and Kepler's laws; Faculty pendulum; Motion of a charged particle in electric and magnetic field; magnetic confinement of plasma; Wave and oscillations; Mutual inductance; Motional emf; Rail gun.
8) Solving equations of nth degree: Kirchoff's rules; RC, RL and RCL circuits; Matrices.
9) Spetial Functions: Bessel, Legendre, and Hermit polynomials.
10) Quantum mechanics, Relativity, Cosmology.

Please check this page periodically for any changes. I reserve the right to make minor adjustments.