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Methods of Mathematical Physics (MAST30031)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Email: david.ridout@unimelb.edu.au
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject builds on, and extends earlier, related undergraduate subjects with topics that are useful to applied mathematics, mathematical physics and physics students, as well as pure mathematics students interested in applied mathematics and mathematical physics. These topics include:
- Special functions: Spherical harmonics including Legendre polynomials and Bessel functions, including cylindrical, modified and spherical Bessel functions;
- Integral equations: Classification, Fourier and Laplace transform solutions, separable kernels, singular integral equations, Wiener-Hopf equations, and series solutions;
- Further vector analysis: Differential forms, and integrating p-forms;
- Further complex analysis: The Schwarz reflection principle, and Wiener-Hopf in complex variables.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should:
- Be familiar with the most important special functions of mathematical physics, including Legendre polynomials and Bessel functions, and how they arise in solving the Laplace equation in different coordinate systems using separation of variables.
- Learn how a physical problem formulated as a differential equation and a set of boundary conditions can be recast as an integral equation, and how that may offer a way to solve the problem that is not available in the original formulation.
- Be familiar with differential forms as tools that allow one to solve physical problems with maximal notational simplicity.
- Learn new, fundamental concepts that extend the basic concepts of a first subject in complex analysis to allow for the solution of more sophisticated physical problems.
Generic skills
In addition to skills that are useful in careers in science, engineering, commerce and education, students will develop useful generic skills that include:
- The problem-solving skills of identifying strategies to solve unfamiliar problems;
- The analytic skills of constructing and expressing logical arguments, and of working in abstract, general terms to clarify and improve available solutions;
- The time-management skills of meeting regular deadlines while balancing competing commitments.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST20030 | Differential Equations | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
MAST30029 Partial Differential Equations (prior to 2014)
Plus:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST30021 | Complex Analysis |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
MAST30021 Complex Analysis may be taken concurrently with MAST30031 Methods of Mathematical Physics
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Three written assignments of up to 60 pages due at regular intervals
| During the teaching period | 30% |
Written exam
| During the examination period | 70% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator David Ridout Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 one-hour lectures (three per week); 12 one-hour practice classes (one per week) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Email: david.ridout@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED Informal specialisation Applied Mathematics Informal specialisation Applied Mathematics Major Mathematical Physics Major Applied Mathematics Informal specialisation Applied Mathematics specialisation - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022