Course Name
AIMS: Problem Solving
Course Number
aims23
Year/Term
Fall-2023
Course Credits
0
Class meeting times
30 hours total
Prerequisites
TBA
Course description
Physicists and other physical scientists and engineers routinely use algebra and calculus, including vector calculus, in problem-solving. But the hard part of physics problem solving is often at the beginning and end of the problem, namely getting to an algebraic expression from a description of a physical situation in words or other representations, and interpreting an algebraic expression as a statement about what will happen in the real world. This course will use examples from electromagnetism involving scalar and vector fields in the three-dimensional world to explore a variety of problem-solving methods, including using information from experimental data, approximations, idealizations, and visualizations. The emphasis will be on how geometry can help.
Topic/Day
Activities
Resources
Homework Due
M 6 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Introduction to the Teaching Team
Introduction to the Course
Using Gradescope
Densities
Representations of Scalar Fields
(on your own)
T 7 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Introduction to the Lorentz Force Law
Position Vector
5-6 pm
Dot Product
Tetrahedron
Addition Formulas
8 Nov. 8pm
(on your own)
W 8 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Power Series Introduction
Power Series Notation
Derivation of Power Series Coefficients
Calculating Coefficients of Power Series
Guessing Power Series
Visualizing the Relationship between Power Series and their Graphs
Using Technology to Explore Power Series Approximations
Power Series Approximations
(on your own)
Th 9 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Electrostatic & Gravitational Potential and Potential Energy
The Distance Formula
The Superposition Principle
5-6 pm
Limiting Cases for a Pair of Charges
Definitions of Multipoles
Compare Series and Visualization
10 Nov. 8 pm
(on your own)
F 10 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Review of Derivatives
The Multivariable Differential
Curvilinear Basis Vectors
Vector Fields in Curvilinear Coordinates
5-6 pm
Tutorial (postponed)
(on your own)
M 13 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Visualizing the Gradient 1
5-6 pm
Properties of Gradient
Directional Derivatives
Partial Derivatives
GEM 1.2.1
Electric Field Due to a Point Charge
Maxima/Minima
Constraints
Optimization using gradient
14 Nov. 8 pm
(on your own)
T 14 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Proportional Reasoning
Use What You Know
The Helix
5-6 pm
Scalar Line, Surface, Volume Elements
GEM 1.3.1
Total Charge
Optimization using Differentials
16 Nov. 8 pm
(on your own)
W 15 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Step Functions
Delta Functions
Conductors
Circulation
5-6 pm
Tutorial
(on your own)
Th 16 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Flux Definition
Cross Product
GMM: Cross Product
GEM 1.1.1-1.1.3
Vector Surface Elements
Current Density
Total Current
5-6 pm
Electrostatic Potential from Continuous Charge Distributions
Limiting Cases
17 Nov. 8 pm
(on your own)
F 17 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Visualization of Divergence
Using Divergence and Curl
(Make bathtub an exam problem?)
5-6 pm
Tutorial (postponed)
(on your own)
M 20 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Visualizing Flux
11 am-noon
Tutorial
5-6 pm
In-class Test
T 21 Nov
8:30-10:30 am
Divergence Theorem
Stokes' Theorem
Differential Form of Ampère's Law