Physics

Course examines the mathematical formalism and methods of analysis and solution of deterministic autonomous and non-autonomous nonlinear systems, including phase space, local and global bifurcations, limit cycles and attractors, strange attractors, chaos and fractals, maps and universality. Applications will be drawn from nonlinear oscillators in biology, chemistry and electronics, mechanical and structural stability, geophysics, astrophysics and fluid dynamics, as well as from models used in climate science, economics and epidemics.

The second semester of the physics sequence. We begin with a review of Oscillation, then Waves (for about 3 weeks), but we mostly cover Electromagnetic Phenomena: Electric fields, Electric Potential, Gauss' Law, Magnetic Fields, Maxwell's Equations.

Physical measurements and analysis of experimental data. The experiments test and apply some basic principles selected from the following fields: mechanics, sound, electromagnetism, optics and modern physics. Experiments and topics may vary each semester. Digital and analog laboratory instruments; computer acquisition and analysis of data. Estimate of systematic and random error, propagation of error, interpretation of results. This course complements three lecture courses, Ph 112, Ph 213, Ph 214.