Homework set 2.
Math Methods for Physics
Dr. Yochum
Due Friday, Sept. 10.
H1. Using the MacLaurin series expansion we derived in class, derive
equation 55 (the binomial series expansion) in Fletcher, Chapter 1.
H2. The following data of an electron's position as a function of time
are thought to obey a power law, but the power is not known. Determine the power
that best fits the data. Use graph paper.
| position (nanometer) | time (seconds) |
| 1.1 | 1.3 |
| 2.3 | 4.2 |
| 3.0 | 10 |
| 3.9 | 15.5 |
(hint: in class, and in book, we said how to plot power law data so that it can be
plotted on a linear graph. do a least squares curve fit to determine the power.....)
Chapter 1, Fletcher, # 32, 33, 37, 39, 41.
Chapter 2, Fletcher # 1, plus a couple more to be determined by Tuesday of next week.