This course introduces mathematical modelbuilding using dimensional analysis, perturbation theory and variational principles. Models are selected from the natural and social sciences according to the interests of the instructor and students. Examples are: planetary orbits, spring-mass systems, fluid flow, isomers in organic chemistry, biological competition, biochemical kinetics and physiological flow. Computer simulation of these models will also be considered.
Prerequisites
knowledge of ordinary differential equations and of analysis at the level of MA 501 is assumed