Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
PHYS 217
Spring 2025
| Section:
01
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| Course Cluster and Certificates: Integrated Design, Engineering & Applied Science Minor |
Why is it often very difficult to predict the behavior of systems even when we know the interactions between the constituent parts? When the interactions are nonlinear, the tools of linear mathematics are inadequate. When nonlinear systems have more than three dimensions in their state space, they are often chaotic with fundamental limits on predictability. This course systematically addresses one and two dimensional nonlinear systems, analyzing fixed points, bifurcations, and limit cycles. We then explore chaos in continuous systems and discrete maps. The course balances mastery of mathematical tools for analyzing nonlinear systems, development of physical intuition, and practical problem-solving. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
NSM PHYS |
| Course Format: Lecture | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: PHYS213 |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (IDEA-MN)(PHYS)(STS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos: With Applications to Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering
Author: Steven H. Strogatz
Third Edition
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly Problem Sets, 2 exams, and a final project |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Calculus is required. Students are encouraged to take a linear algebra course, MATH 221 or MATH 223, before or concurrently with PHYS 217. |
| Instructor(s): Voth,Greg Times: .M.W... 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: SCIE201; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: 4 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 7 | FR: 2 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 3 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 2 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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