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Overview

These pages host curricular materials suitable for courses in mathematical methods for intermediate-level physics students. In many departments, a course of this nature is offered at the sophomore level, generally after students have completed introductory physics and three semesters of calculus, often using the textbook by Boas. Notably, there are many other approaches, and in some cases instructors may wish to use materials as supplements in one or more of the core theory and/or lab courses in the physics major. The primary authors are Michael Loverude (Cal State Fullerton), John Thompson (University of Maine), and Warren Christensen (North Dakota State), with contributions by junior scholars including Ben Schermerhorn, Trevor Smith, Will Riihiluoma, and Andi Piña (UMaine), Mikayla Mays and Anderson Fung (Cal State Fullerton), and project postdoc Zeynep Topdemir, who played a significant role in preparing materials and this website for publication. As the latest set of grants are still active, these materials should be considered works in progress.

Inquiries can be directed to the PI team. 

These materials have been developed in multiple contexts. Most are targeted toward the 'Boas' course (generally these have been developed at Cal State Fullerton). Others are appropriate for a math methods course as well as various content courses. There is some cross-referencing to our other prior work in Tutorials in Thermal Physics.

Research and curricular materials supported by the National Science Foundation through grants PHY-1406035 and -1912660 at CSUF, PHY-1912087 and -1405726 at UMaine, and PHY-1912152 at NDSU.