MERU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
P.O. Box 972-60200 – Meru-Kenya.
Tel: 020-2069349, 061-2309217. 064-30320 Cell phone: +254 712524293, +254
789151411
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Website: www.must.ac.ke Email:
[email protected] University Examinations 2017/2018
FOURTH YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE PHYSICS OPTION
SPH 3403: MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS II
DATE: MAY 2018 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: - Answer question one and any other two questions
QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)
a) (i) Define the following boundary conditions;
I. Dirichlet (1 Mark)
II. Neumann (1 Mark)
III. Periodic (1 Mark)
(ii) Use separation of variables on the following preferential differential equation;(4 Marks)
=Ʀ
,0 = u( − l , t) = u(l,t) ( − l,t) = ,
b) Find a general solution to the following differential equation; (4 Marks)
−2 + =
+1
c) (i) Convert the following Cartesian coordinates for the point( −3, 4, −1 into spherical
coordinates.(put your answer in radians where applicable) (3 Marks)
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(ii) Describe and identify the surface given by the equation below; (2 Marks)
' )' +'
+ + =1
(' *' ,'
d) Find the general solution for the differential equation; (3 Marks)
2
3 − 12 +6 =
+1
.)
e) Show that the equation −3= can be solved using separation of variables. (3 Marks)
.
f) Find a general solution to the following differential equation;
3 + 18 = 6tan 3
Given that the complementary solution is given by the equation;
, = 01 cos 3 + 0 sin 3
g) Solve the following differential equation; − = 0. Using the operator method assume that
3
= 2 is a solution to the differential equation. (4 Marks)
QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)
a) Convert the following cylindrical co-ordinates to Cartesian co-ordinates; (2 Marks)
( 3, 453 , −4
b) Convert the following equations to Cartesian; (2 Marks)
6708 = 2097: + 47;<:
3 9− y 2
18 − x 2 − y 2
c) Convert the integral
0 0
x + y2
x 2 + y 2 + zd zdydx to spherical coordinates(4 Marks)
d) Consider the problem of two coupled oscillators where the three springs all have different force
constants. Find the two characteristic frequencies and compare the magnitudes with the natural
frequencies of the two oscillators in the absence of coupling. (6 Marks)
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e) Write the fourier heat equation (parabolic) (2 Marks)
QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)
a) Two identical harmonic oscillators (with masses M and natural frequencies Wo) are coupled
such that by adding to the system a mass m, common to both oscillators, the equation of
>
motion become; = 1 + = + @A 1 =0
?
>
= + = 1 + @A =0
?
Solve this pair of coupled equations, and obtain the frequencies of the normal modes of the
system. (6 Marks)
b) Define the following terms;
i) Linear equation (1 Mark)
ii) Homogeneous equation (1 Mark)
c) Consider a system of two objects of mass M. The two objects are attached to two springs with
spring constant Ʀ( see figure below) the interaction force between the masses is represented by
a third spring whose spring constant is B1 which connects the two masses. (6 Marks)
d) (i) Identify the surface = 0, = 0 C<D E = 0 where c is any constant. (2 Marks)
(ii) Plot the surface identified in (i) above . (2 Marks)
(iii) Plot the surface identified by the equation (2 Marks)
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F
8=
G
QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)
a) Solve the heat equation that satisfies the initial conditions.
u t = Ruxx xE [0, <], t > 0
u ( x,0) = φ ( x) xE [0, L]
Where it satisfies the Dirichlet, Neumann and periodic boundary conditions. (5 Marks)
b) Use separation of variables to solve the wave equation satisfying the dirichlet boundary
conditions. (7 Marks)
−0 = 0, 0 < < <, > 0
u(0,t)= u(L, t)= 0 t≥0
,0 = K 0< <L
,0 = Ψ 0< <L
c) Rewrite the differential equation − = 0 in the from N − 1 = 0 and solve (4 Marks)
d) Find the general solution to − +1 + = given that , = = +1
(4 Marks)
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