book

A Physicist's Guide to Mathematica, 2nd Edition

by Patrick T. Tam

August 2011

Intermediate to advanced

641 pages

14h 48m

English

Academic Press

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Dedication
PurposeUsesOrganizationSuggestionsPrerequisitesComputer SystemsAcknowledgments
1.1. The First Ten Minutes1.2. A Touch of Physics1.2.1. Numerical Calculations1.2.2. Symbolic Calculations1.2.3. Graphics1.3. Online Help1.4. Warning Messages1.5. Packages1.6. Notebook Interfaces1.6.1. Notebooks1.6.2. Entering Greek Letters1.6.3. Getting Help1.6.4. Preparing Input1.6.5. Starting and Aborting Calculations1.7. Problems
2.1. Numerical Capabilities2.1.1. Arithmetic Operations2.1.2. Spaces and Parentheses2.1.3. Common Mathematical Constants2.1.4. Some Mathematical Functions2.1.5. Cases and Brackets2.1.6. Ways to Refer to Previous Results2.1.7. Standard Computations2.1.8. Exact versus Approximate Values2.1.9. Machine Precision versus Arbitrary Precision2.1.10. Special Functions2.1.11. Matrices2.1.12. Double Square Brackets2.1.13. Linear Least-Squares Fit2.1.14. Complex Numbers2.1.15. Random Numbers2.1.16. Numerical Solution of Polynomial Equations2.1.17. Numerical Integration2.1.18. Numerical Solution of Differential Equations2.1.19. Iterators2.1.20. Exercises2.2. Symbolic Capabilities2.2.1. Transforming Algebraic Expressions2.2.2. Transforming Trigonometric Expressions2.2.3. Transforming Expressions Involving Special Functions2.2.4. Using Assumptions2.2.5. Obtaining Parts of Algebraic Expressions2.2.6. Units, Conversion of Units, and Physical Constants2.2.7. Assignments and Transformation Rules2.2.8. Equation Solving2.2.9. Differentiation2.2.10. Integration2.2.11. Sums2.2.12. Power Series2.2.13. Limits2.2.14. Solving Differential Equations2.2.15. Immediate versus Delayed Assignments and Transformation Rules2.2.16. Defining Functions2.2.17. Relational and Logical Operators2.2.18. Fourier Transforms2.2.19. Evaluating Subexpressions2.2.20. Exercises2.3. Graphical Capabilities2.3.1. Two-Dimensional Graphics2.3.1.1. Basic Plots2.3.1.2. Options2.3.1.3. Multiple Plots2.3.1.4. FindRoot2.3.1.5. FindMinimum and FindMaximum2.3.1.6. Data Plots2.3.1.7. Parametric Plots2.3.1.8. Interactive Graphics Drawing2.3.2. Three-Dimensional Graphics2.3.2.1. Surface Plots2.3.2.2. Viewpoint2.3.3. Interactive Manipulation of Graphics2.3.4. Animation2.3.5. Exercise2.4. Lists2.4.1. Defining Lists2.4.2. Generating and Displaying Lists2.4.3. Counting List Elements2.4.4. Obtaining List and Sublist Elements2.4.5. Changing List and Sublist Elements2.4.6. Rearranging Lists2.4.7. Restructuring Lists2.4.8. Combining Lists2.4.9. Operating on Lists2.4.10. Using Lists in Computations2.4.11. Analyzing Data2.4.11.1. Basic Error Analysis2.4.11.2. Nonlinear Least-Squares Fit2.4.11.3. Interpolation2.4.12. Exercises2.5. Special Characters, Two-Dimensional Forms, and Format Types2.5.1. Special Characters2.5.1.1. Ways to Enter Special Characters2.5.1.2. Letters and Letterlike Forms2.5.1.3. OperatorsLogical OperatorsBracketing OperatorsOther Operators2.5.1.4. Structural Elements and Spacing Characters2.5.1.5. Similar-Looking Characters2.5.2. Two-Dimensional Forms2.5.2.1. Ways to Enter Two-Dimensional FormsPalettesControl KeysOrdinary CharactersCreate Table/Matrix2.5.2.2. Some Two-Dimensional Forms with Built-in Meaning2.5.2.3. Two-Dimensional Notation in Physics2.5.3. Input and Output Forms2.5.4. Exercises2.6. Problems
3.1. Expressions3.1.1. Atoms3.1.2. Internal Representation3.1.3. Manipulation3.1.3.1. Obtaining Parts of Expressions3.1.3.2. Changing Parts of Expressions3.1.3.3. Rearranging Expressions3.1.3.4. Restructuring Expressions3.1.3.5. Operating on Expressions3.1.3.6. Manipulating Equations3.1.4. Exercises3.2. Patterns3.2.1. Blanks3.2.2. Naming Patterns3.2.3. Restricting Patterns3.2.3.1. Types3.2.3.2. Tests3.2.3.3. Conditions3.2.4. Structural Equivalence3.2.5. Attributes3.2.6. Defaults3.2.7. Alternative or Repeated Patterns3.2.8. Multiple Blanks3.2.9. Exercises3.3. Functions3.3.1. Pure Functions3.3.2. Selecting a Definition3.3.3. Recursive Functions and Dynamic Programming3.3.4. Functional Iterations3.3.5. Protection3.3.6. Upvalues and Downvalues3.3.7. Exercises3.4. Procedures3.4.1. Local Symbols3.4.2. Conditionals3.4.3. Loops3.4.3.1. Changing Values of Variables3.4.3.2. Do, While, and For3.4.4. Named Optional Arguments3.4.5. An Example: Motion of a Particle in One Dimension3.4.6. Exercises3.5. Graphics3.5.1. Graphics Objects3.5.2. Two-Dimensional Graphics3.5.2.1. Two-Dimensional Graphics Primitives3.5.2.2. Two-Dimensional Graphics Directives3.5.2.3. Two-Dimensional Graphics Options3.5.2.4. Wave Motion3.5.3. Three-Dimensional Graphics3.5.3.1. Three-Dimensional Graphics Primitives3.5.3.2. Three-Dimensional Graphics Directives3.5.3.3. Three-Dimensional Graphics Options3.5.3.4. Crystal Structure3.5.4. Exercises3.6. Programming Styles3.6.1. Procedural Programming3.6.2. Functional Programming3.6.3. Rule-Based Programming3.6.4. Exercises3.7. Packages3.7.1. Contexts3.7.2. Context Manipulation3.7.3. A Sample Package3.7.3.1. The Problem3.7.3.2. The Package3.7.3.3. Analysis of the Package3.7.4. Template for Packages3.7.5. Exercises
4.1. Falling Bodies4.1.1. The Problem4.1.2. Physics of the Problem4.1.3. Solution with Mathematica4.2. Projectile Motion4.2.1. The Problem4.2.2. Physics of the Problem4.2.3. Solution with Mathematica4.3. The Pendulum4.3.1. The Problem4.3.2. Physics of the Problem4.3.2.1. The Plane Pendulum4.3.2.2. The Damped Pendulum4.3.2.3. The Damped, Driven Pendulum4.3.3. Solution with Mathematica4.3.3.1. The Plane Pendulum4.3.3.2. The Damped Pendulum4.3.3.3. The Damped, Driven Pendulum4.3.3.4. ChaoticPendulum’: A Mathematica Package4.4. The Spherical Pendulum4.4.1. The Problem4.4.2. Physics of the Problem4.4.3. Solution with Mathematica4.4.3.1. θ0 = 120, 0 = 0, ϕ0 = 45, 0 = 04.4.3.2. θ0 = 135, 0 = 0, ϕ0 = 90, 0 = 21/44.4.3.3. θ0 = 135, 0 = 2.5, ϕ0 = 90, 0 = 1.5 ×21/44.4.3.4. θ0 = 120, 0 = 0.75, ϕ0 = 90, 0 = 2.0 × 21/44.5. Problems
5.1. Electric Field Lines and Equipotentials5.1.1. The Problem5.1.2. Physics of the Problem5.1.2.1. Electric Field Lines5.1.2.2. Equipotentials5.1.2.3. Electric Field Lines and Equipotentials for Two Point Charges5.1.3. Solution with Mathematica5.1.3.1. q1 = q2 = + q5.1.3.2. q1 = +2q and q2 = –q5.2. Laplace’s Equation5.2.1. The Problem5.2.2. Physics of the Problem5.2.2.1. Analytical Solution5.2.2.2. Numerical Solution5.2.3. Solution with Mathematica5.2.3.1. Analytical Solution5.2.3.2. Numerical Solution5.3. Charged Particle in Crossed Electric and Magnetic Fields5.3.1. The Problem5.3.2. Physics of the Problem5.3.3. Solution with Mathematica5.4. Problems

6.1. Blackbody Radiation6.1.1. The Problem6.1.2. Physics of the Problem6.1.3. Solution with Mathematica6.1.3.1. u(λ, T) at Several Temperatures6.1.3.2. Wien’s Displacement Law6.1.3.3. λmax for Solar Radiation6.2. Wave Packets6.2.1. The Problem6.2.2. Physics of the Problem6.2.3. Solution with Mathematica6.3. Particle in a One-Dimensional Box6.3.1. The Problem6.3.2. Physics of the Problem6.3.3. Solution with Mathematica6.3.3.1. Function Definitions6.3.3.2. Animation6.4. The Square Well Potential6.4.1. The Problem6.4.2. Physics of the Problem6.4.2.1. Analytical Solution6.4.2.2. Numerical Solution6.4.3. Solution with Mathematica6.4.3.1. Analytical Solution6.4.3.2. Numerical Solution6.5. Angular Momentum6.5.1. The Problem6.5.2. Physics of the Problem6.5.2.1. Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics6.5.2.2. Orbital Angular Momentum6.5.2.3. The Eigenvalue Problem6.5.3. Solution with Mathematica6.6. The Kronig–Penney Model6.6.1. The Problem6.6.2. Physics of the Problem6.6.3. Solution with Mathematica6.7. Problems
Section 2.1.20Section 2.2.20Section 2.3.5Section 2.4.12Section 2.5.4Section 3.1.4Section 3.2.9Section 3.3.7Section 3.4.6Section 3.5.4Section 3.6.4Section 3.7.5
Section 1.7Section 2.6Section 4.5Section 5.4Section 6.7

Overview

For the engineering and scientific professional, A Physicist’s Guide to Mathematica, Second Edition provides an updated reference guide based on the 2007 new 6.0 release, providing an organized and integrated desk reference with step-by-step instructions for the most commonly used features of the software as it applies to research in physics.

For professors teaching physics and other science courses using the Mathematica software, A Physicist’s Guide to Mathematica, Second Edition is the only fully compatible (new software release) Mathematica text that engages students by providing complete topic coverage, new applications, exercises and examples that enable the user to solve a wide range of physics problems.

Does not require prior knowledge of Mathematica or computer programming
Can be used as either a primary or supplemental text for upper-division physics majors
Provides over 450 end-of-section exercises and end-of-chapter problems
Serves as a reference suitable for chemists, physical scientists, and engineers
Compatible with Mathematica Version 6, a recent major release