What are vvvdat tables and how can they help with introductory physics homework?

[KingOfTwilight]

Gradient FAQ or guide/introduction would be marvellous! I've been trying to learn about them but I still lack some general understanding. (I can do problems but still have no "clear picture".) If someone can suggest websites, please do so. I'm still in high school so self-studying this kind of math isn't too easy.

 

[pervect]

I have been wondering about this myself. Is there such a thread in the Math forum? If not, I would be pleased to create one.

I think an understanding of the physical signifcance of gradient, divergence and curl is very helpful to students in physics and engineering.

There is an excellent discussion of this matter in "Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics", by Frederick W. Byon, Jr. and Robert W. Fuller. So I imagine any thread on this subject would be pretty much a regurgatation of Byron and Fuller.

BTW, I like marlon's and arildno's treatments of the subjects they did. Like e(ho0n3 mentioned, I have not seen a treatment like the one by arildno in "Classical Systems With Variable Mass And Other Geometric Systems". I think this partially addresses the matter discussed in "lessons" in the Feedback forum.

"Div, Grad, Curl, and all that" is another good, though informal, treatment of the topic.

 

[Astronuc]

Here is a pretty decent site on the fundamentals of EM.

http://www-solar.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/~alan/MT3601/Fundamentals/Fundamentals.html

What to guys think?

 

[Gokul43201]

Here's hotvette's tutorials on classical mechanics (calculus based)

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=778515&postcount=33

 

[Gokul43201]

CURRENT TUTORIALS AND TEXTS

1. Newtonian Mechanics, Motion on Inclines, Work Energy Theorem by Marlon.

2. Classical Systems With Variable Mass And Other Geometric Systems by arildno.

3. Classical Mechanics, Motion under Gravity, Motion on Inclines by hotvette.

 

[drpizza]

When I teach intro physics to high school students, I concentrate more on them understanding the concepts at first than actually using formulas. Thus, I have the students make use of vvvdat tables in describing situations. (Initial, final, and average velocity.) Other than for solving problems in which an initial or final velocity is given, along with an acceleration and distance, those tables work quite well to reinforce concepts as well as to help with problem solving. edit: sorry, I should mention that I'm in NY; this state uses "d" for displacement in formulas.