Difference between revisions of "Self-diagnostic test"

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(→‎Self-diagnostic test to identify strengths and weaknesses before beginning PhD or Masters coursework)
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'''PDF with all the questions listed provided here'''
 
'''PDF with all the questions listed provided here'''
 
===Quantum Mechanics===
 
===Quantum Mechanics===
−
* Griffiths Quantum Mechanics (Second Edition)
+
* Griffiths Quantum Mechanics (Second Edition) - [http://physicspages.com/Griffiths%20QM.html PhysicsPages.com Solutions]
 
** Problem 7.1 - Variational Method
 
** Problem 7.1 - Variational Method
 
** Problem 2.14 - Simple Harmonic Oscillator Calculations
 
** Problem 2.14 - Simple Harmonic Oscillator Calculations
−
* Sakurai Modern Quantum Mechanics (Second Edition)
+
* Sakurai Modern Quantum Mechanics (Second Edition) - [http://grad08.physics.sunysb.edu/resources/Sakurai-Modern-Quantum-Mechanics-2nd-Edition-With-Solutions.pdf Solutions]
 
** Chapter 1 Mathematical Problems 1, 4, 10, 29
 
** Chapter 1 Mathematical Problems 1, 4, 10, 29
−
* Zettili Quantum Mechanics (Second Edition)
+
* Zettili Quantum Mechanics (Second Edition) - [https://sbucomps.wordpress.com/ Steven Sagona's comprehensive exam study website has solutions], also [[Quantum_Mechanics|Similar Solutions available in QM comprehensive exam resources]]
 
** Problem 5.5 - Spin Eigenstates
 
** Problem 5.5 - Spin Eigenstates
  
 
===Electromagnetism===
 
===Electromagnetism===
−
* Jackson Electrodynamics (Third Edition)
+
* Jackson Electrodynamics (Third Edition) - [[Classical_Electrodynamics|Similar Solutions available in EM comprehensive exam resources]]
 
** Problem 1.1 - Basics
 
** Problem 1.1 - Basics
 
** Problem 2.1 - Method of Images
 
** Problem 2.1 - Method of Images
 
** Problem 5.33 - Mutual Inductance
 
** Problem 5.33 - Mutual Inductance
−
* Griffiths Introduction to Electrodynamics (Fourth Edition)
+
* Griffiths Introduction to Electrodynamics (Fourth Edition) - [http://physicspages.com/Griffiths%20EM.html PhysicsPages.com Solutions]
 
** Problem 5.26 - Magnetic Vector Potentials
 
** Problem 5.26 - Magnetic Vector Potentials
 
** Problem 7.37 - Maxwell's Equations
 
** Problem 7.37 - Maxwell's Equations
  
 
===Classical Mechanics===
 
===Classical Mechanics===
−
* Landau and Lifshitz Classical Mechanics (Third Edition)
+
* Landau and Lifshitz Classical Mechanics (Third Edition) - [http://grad08.physics.sunysb.edu/resources/Landau-classical-mechanics-3rd-edition.pdf Textbook]
 
** Problem 1.1 - Double Pendulum
 
** Problem 1.1 - Double Pendulum
 
** Last question of chapter 2 section 7, page 16 - Conservation of Momentum
 
** Last question of chapter 2 section 7, page 16 - Conservation of Momentum
−
* Taylor Classical Mechanics (First Edition)
+
* Taylor Classical Mechanics (First Edition) - [[Classical_Mechanics|Similar Solutions available in CM comprehensive exam resources]]
 
** Problem 5.40 - Resonance in Damped and Driven Oscillators
 
** Problem 5.40 - Resonance in Damped and Driven Oscillators
 
** Problem 11.4 - Normal Modes of Coupled Systems
 
** Problem 11.4 - Normal Modes of Coupled Systems
−
* Goldstein Classical Mechanics (Third Edition)
+
* Goldstein Classical Mechanics (Third Edition) - [http://grad08.physics.sunysb.edu/resources/Goldstein-classical-mechanics-3rd-edition.pdf Textbook]
 
** Problem 8.15 - Hamiltonian's and Lagrangians
 
** Problem 8.15 - Hamiltonian's and Lagrangians
 
** Problem 3.19 - Orbital Motion, Forces and Potentials
 
** Problem 3.19 - Orbital Motion, Forces and Potentials
  
 
===Statistical Mechanics===
 
===Statistical Mechanics===
−
* Schroeder Introduction to Thermal Physics (Seventh Edition)
+
* Schroeder Introduction to Thermal Physics (Seventh Edition) - [http://www.physicspages.com/schroeder%20thermal.html PhysicsPages.com Solutions], also [[Statistical_Mechanics|Similar Solutions available in SM comprehensive exam resources]]
 
** Problem 5.12 - Maxwell Relations
 
** Problem 5.12 - Maxwell Relations
 
** Problem 3.10 - Entropy and Heat
 
** Problem 3.10 - Entropy and Heat

Revision as of 16:38, 22 June 2018

Coming in to Stony Brook's graduate coursework can be a bit disorienting. The core courses are rather difficult for people who have not taken similar difficulty courses in the past, and so former students have compiled a set of characteristic questions from undergraduate textbooks that they believe give a taste of what you should expect.

The idea, to some extent, is that if you have significant difficulty understanding or solving these problems then taking more preparation in advance and care with the core courses would be a good idea. Some people who are already comfortable with the core course materials are able to take 3 or 4 courses at once in the first semester, but this is often not very fun or healthy or academically advisable - so if more than half of these questions are new ideas or highly non-trivial for you then please avoid doing too much in your first semesters.

Self-diagnostic test to identify strengths and weaknesses before beginning PhD or Masters coursework

PDF with all the questions listed provided here

Quantum Mechanics

Electromagnetism

Classical Mechanics

  • Landau and Lifshitz Classical Mechanics (Third Edition) - Textbook
    • Problem 1.1 - Double Pendulum
    • Last question of chapter 2 section 7, page 16 - Conservation of Momentum
  • Taylor Classical Mechanics (First Edition) - Similar Solutions available in CM comprehensive exam resources
    • Problem 5.40 - Resonance in Damped and Driven Oscillators
    • Problem 11.4 - Normal Modes of Coupled Systems
  • Goldstein Classical Mechanics (Third Edition) - Textbook
    • Problem 8.15 - Hamiltonian's and Lagrangians
    • Problem 3.19 - Orbital Motion, Forces and Potentials

Statistical Mechanics


Math sandbox

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