PHYS 209 – Mathematical Syllabus Fall Semester 2021-2022

Methods in Physics I

Instructor: Dr. Atalay Karasu, Room # 314, Tel: 3295, Email: karasu@metu.edu.tr

Teaching Assistant: Okan Günel, Room # 225, Tel: 4338, Email: okan@metu.edu.tr

Textbook: W.E. Boyce, R.C. DiPrima, Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems
(New York: J. Wiley, 2012, 10th edition)

Reading: F. B. Hildebrand, Advanced Calculus for Applications (Prentice Hall NJ, 1976, 2nd edition)

Schedule: Monday 13:40 -15:30 ; Wednesday 10:40 - 12:30 via zoom meeting

Teaching Method: Online/distance teaching

Grading: There will be three midterm exams (%20 each) and a final exam (%40).

TOPICS:

 Definitions and Classification of Differential Equations: Linear equations, Nonlinear equations,

Order and Degree of Differential equations, General and Particular solutions of differential
equations, Initial and Boundary Value Problems.

 First Order Differential Equations: Separable equations, Homogeneous equations, Exact

equations, Integrating Factors, Linear Equations, The Bernoulli Equation.

 Higher Order Linear Differential Equations: Homogeneous equations with Constant Coefficients,
Reduction of Order, The Method of Undetermined Coefficients, The Method of Variation of
Parameters, The Cauchy- Euler Equation.

 Series Solutions of Second Order Linear Equations: Series Solutions near an Ordinary Point,
Series Solutions near a Regular Singular Point (The Frobenius Method).

 Boundary Value Problems and The Sturm- Liouville Equation: Linear Homogeneous Boundary
Value Problems, Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions, Nonhomogeneous Boundary Value Problems.

 Fourier Series: Fourier Sine and Cosine Series, Complete Fourier Series, Fourier Convergence
Theorem.

 Partial Differential Equations: The Method of Separation of Variables, Wave equation, Heat
equation, Laplace equation.

 Systems of First Order Linear Equations: Homogeneous Linear Systems with Constant
Coefficients, Nonhomogeneous Linear Systems.

 Some Physical Applications of First and Second Order Differential Equations

Exam Dates: (Online)

 1st Midterm Exam: Monday, November 15, 2021 , 13:40 - 15:30,

 2nd Midterm Exam: Monday, December 20, 2021 , 13:40 - 15:30,

 3th Midterm Exam: Wednesday, January 19, 2022 , 10:40 - 12:30,

 Final Exam: TBA

Academic Honesty:

The METU Honour Code is as follows: "Every member of METU community adopts the following honour
code as one of the core principles of academic life and strives to develop an academic environment
where continuous adherence to this code is promoted. The members of the METU community are
reliable, responsible and honourable people who embrace only the success and recognition they deserve,
and act with integrity in their use, evaluation and presentation of facts, data and documents."

Any form of cheating will be severely punished!