YACHAY TECH UNIVERSITY

COURSE SYLLABUS: Mathematical Physics I CODE: PHYS-504

(Based on the Regulation on Academic Regime issued by the Higher Education Council (CES in Spanish)
and the Regulation on Academic Regime of Yachay Tech)
1. General Information
A) SCHOOL Physical Sciences & Nanotechnology B) MAJOR Physics/Nanotechnology
C) SEMESTER 5th D) ACADEMIC PERIOD March 2020 - June 2020
E) CURRICULAR UNIT UCO Professional F) MODALITY Classroom instruction
G) HOURS / CREDITS 260/5 H) PROFESSORS Duncan John Mowbray
I) WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULE 10:00 – 12:00 Monday & Wednesday J) WEEKLY TUTORING CLASSES 10:00 – 12:00 Thursday
Aula B – 103 Aula B – 103

2.
PREREQUIREMENTS CO-REQUIREMENTS
COURSES COURSE CODE COURSES COURSE CODE
Differential Equations MAT - 401
Numerical Methods MAT - 402
3. Course Description
Vector and multivariate calculus of lines and surfaces in ℝ3, scalar and vector fields, the "∇" operator, physical interpretation of grad, div, and curl," operator, physical interpretation of grad, div, and curl,
surface and line integrals, curvalinear coordinates, Green's, Stokes', and Gauss' theorems. Applications include conservation laws, electromagnetic fields,
heat flow, and the wave equation. Fourier series, the Fourier transform, Parseval's formula, separation of variables, Legendre, Bessel, and Green's
functions are also discussed.
4. Course´s Contribution to professional training
Build skills and basic knowledge of vector analysis and partial differential equations (PDEs) necessary for the study of electromagnetism, classical
mechanics, and quantum mechanics.
5. Course objectives
Develop a basic knowledge of vector analysis, methods for solving partial differential equations, special functions, and their application and relation to
the physical description of the real world, as seen in electromagnetism, classical mechanics, quantum chemistry, quantum mechanics.
 6. Course´s learning results (according to the Learning Outcomes of the Major)
At the end of the course the student will: Level of the results

Gain a firm foundation in the mathematical techniques necessary to understand the physical world. Medium or high
Obtain insight into how the physical laws which govern the natural world may be described and deduced Medium or high
naturally via a mathematical framework.
Understand the underlying physical meaning behind the mathematical objects which compose vector calculus Medium or high
and partial differential equations.
Be able to ask physically meaningful questions and formulate a problem within a mathematical framework Medium or high

7. Competencies that students developed in the course

 Physical understanding of vector calculus and partial differential equations
 Ability to apply mathematical methods to model real-world problems
 Basis of a “physical intuition”
 Ability to ask physically meaningful questions within a mathematical framework

8. Units / Content / Hours / Evaluation method for students

CURRICULAR UNITS CONTENT TEACHING HOURS OF HOURS OF EVALUATION METHODS

HOURS INTERNSHIP AND INDEPENDENT AND CRITERIA
LEARNING
EXPERIMENTAL
LEARNING
UC.1 Curves in ℝ3 4 2 6.5 Quiz, Midterm, Final
UC.2 Surfaces in ℝ 3
4 2 6.5 Quiz, Assignment, Midterm,
Final Exam
UC.3 Scalar and Vector Fields; the ∇" operator, physical interpretation of grad, div, and curl, operator 4 2 6.5 Quiz, Assignment, Midterm,
Final Exam
UC.4 Physical Interpretation of Grad, Div, Curl, 4 2 6.5 Quiz, Assignment, Midterm,
and Line Integrals Final Exam
UC.5 Line Integrals 4 2 6.5 Midterm, Final Exam

UC.6 Green’s Theorem 4 2 6.5 Quiz, Midterm, Final Exam

UC.7 Surface Integrals 4 2 6.5 Midterm, Final Exam

UC.8 Orientable Surfaces, Stokes’ Theorem and 4 2 6.5 Quiz, Assignment, Midterm,
Gauss’ Divergence Theorem Final Exam
UC.9 Maxwell’s Equations 4 2 6.5 Quiz, Final Exam

UC.10 Heat Equation 4 2 6.5 Quiz, Assignment,

Final Exam
UC.11 Wave Equation 4 2 6.5 Quiz,
Final Exam
UC.12 Fourier Series 4 2 6.5 Quiz,
Final Exam
UC.13 Fourier Transform 4 2 6.5 Quiz,
Final Exam
UC.14 Sturm-Louiville Theory, Special Functions 8 4 13 Quiz, Assignment,
(Legendre’s, Spherical Harmonics, Bessel’s) Final Exam
UC.15 Green’s Functions 4 2 6.5 Final Exam

TOTAL 64 32 104 200

9. Relation between the learning results of the course and Major´s objectives.
MAJOR´S LEARNING RESULTS (ONLY THOSE THAT APPLY CONTRIBUTION OF STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO:
SPECIFICALLY TO THE COURSE) THE COURSE (HIGH- (EVIDENCE OF LEARNING)
MEDIUM-LOW) TO
THE LEARNING
OUTCOMES OF THE
MAJOR

A Multivariate Calculus HIGH Assignments, Quizzes, Midterm, Final

B Vector Calculus (Gradient, Divergence, Curl) HIGH Assignments, Quizzes, Midterm, Final
C Green’s, Stokes’, and Gauss’ Theorem HIGH Assignments, Quizzes, Midterm, Final
D Partial Differential Equations HIGH Assignments, Quizzes, Final
E Fourier Series and Fourier Transform HIGH Assignments, Quizzes, Final
F Special Functions HIGH Assignments, Quizzes, Final

10. Methodology
The instructor will focus on developing the student’s physical intuition, and an understanding of the underlying concepts behind the
mathematical tools employed throughout physics and nanotechnology. To do so, the instructor will maintain an appropriate balance between
the theoretical foundation and solving exercises, and present the mathematical concepts in sync with their employment in the other V
semester physics courses: Oscillations, Electricity and Magnetism, Classical Mechanics, and Modern Physics.
 11. Information Sources (Bibliography)
11.1 Main
Author/s Title of Work Edition Year of Publication Publishing house - Availability at
Country YACHAY TECH
Library
Harry F. Davis, and Introduction to Vector Analysis 7th 1979 Ilyn & Bacon Inc. -
Arthur David Snider United States

Murray R. Spiegel Schaum’s Outline: Mathematical 1968 McGraw-Hill -

Handbook United States

Murray R. Spiegel Schaum’s Outline: Fourier Analysis 1974 McGraw-Hill -

with Applications to Boundary Value United States
Problems
11.2 Complementary
Author/s Title of Work Edition Year of Publication Publishing house - Availability at
Country YACHAY TECH
Library
John David Jackson Classical Electrodynamics 3rd 1999 John Wiley & Sons -
United States
George B. Arfken and Mathematical Methods for Physicists 6th 2005 Elsevier Academic
Hans J. Weber Press - United States
10.3 Bibliography in the Web
Author/s Title of Work Date of WEB Address Date of Query
uploading to
the WEB

12. Students´ Evaluation

Midterm Exam (MT) - 25 % Formative evaluation (FO) - 25 % Final Exam (FI) - 50 % Total - 100 %
One 2.0 hour partial exam covering Weekly Quizzes (12.5 %) One 3.5 hour final exam covering
units 1 to 6 Biweekly Assignments (12.5%) units 1 to 13
April 13st 10:00-12:00 June 15th 14:00-17:30
Review and approval
PROFESSOR DEAN RECEIPT AT SCHOLAR SERVICES COORDINATION
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