MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY

University Examinations for 2021/2022 Academic Year

SCHOOL OF PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES
SECOND YEAR SPECIAL/ SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATION FOR
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY)
SPH 205: MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS
DATE: 31/8/2022 TIME: 11.00-1.00 PM
INSTRUCTIONS:

Answer question ONE which is compulsory and any other TWO

SECTION A (COMPULSORY)
QUESTION ONE (30 MARKS)
a) (i) Distinguish between dot and cross product of a vector (2 marks)
(ii) Give examples of physical situations where each product may be used (2 marks)
b) Vectors A and B are defined as = 4 + 3 + 12 and = 8 − 6 . Determine
(i) Unit vectors and (4 marks)
(ii) Directional cosines of A (3 marks)
(iii) Angle between A and B using the cross product (3 marks)
c) For the vectors in (b), show that × =− × (4 marks)
d) A force is given by =2 − + .
(i) Calculate the work done by the force in the direction of =3 +4 −2 .
(2 marks)
(ii) Angle between F and r using dot product (3 marks)
e) Show that the points A(1, 2, 3), B(3, 8, 1) and C(7, 20, -3) are collinear (4 marks)
f) Show that the vectors = +2 −3 , =2 − +2 and =3 + − are co-
planer vectors (4 marks)

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QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)
a) A particle moves in space such that at any time t, its position, r is given by = 2 + 3,
= + 3 and = + 2 . At the time = 1 second, determine the following along
the path given by =2 +3 +4
(i) Velocity (4 marks)
(ii) Acceleration (4 marks)
b) The path described by a particle is given by =2 , = + 3 and =2 + 5.
Determine the unit tangent vector at the point (2,4,7) (4 marks)
c) A charged particle is moving at a velocity given by =2 −3 + ( − 2) within a
magnetic field =3 + + ( + 2) . E
(i) If the force = × , determine F at = 1 (4 marks)
$
(ii) Hence evaluate !% ( × )"# (4 marks)
QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)
The vector fields = +( + ) + and = −3 +2 as well as a
scalar field ∅ = 3 + −4 − 3 exist within a certain region, determine the following
parameters
(a) Grad ∅, (3 marks)
(b) Div (3 marks)
(c) Grad ( . ) (4 marks)
(d) Curl (4 marks)
(e) Curl Div B (6 marks)
QUESTION FOUR (20 MARKS)
a) Show that the
(i) Equation "+ ′+( − + ) = 0 is a singular point of the Bessel function
(2 marks)
/0 /1 /3
(ii) Bessel function of order zero is given by -. ( ) = 1 − 0 + 0 − +⋯
20 0 20 40

(5 marks)
b) (i) State the Greens’ theorem (2 marks)
(ii) Use the Greens’ theorem to evaluate the closed path integral ∮7( + )8 +
( + 2 )8 9 taken round the boundary curve given by y = 0, 0 ≤ ≤ 2; + = 4,
0≤ ≤ 2 and x = 0, 0 ≤ ≤2 (6 marks)
c) Find the Laplace transform for the function, f(t) = sin at (5 marks)

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QUESTION FIVE (20 MARKS)
a) Distinguish Hermite and Laguerre polynomials using their characteristic equations as
well as solutions (4 marks)
b) Determine the Legendre polynomials of the function f(x) = x (5 marks)
c) A bar of length 2 m is fully insulated along its sides. It is initially at a uniform temperature
of 10° C and at time t = 0 the ends are plugged into ice then maintained at a temperature of
0° C. Using separation of variables, determine the expression for the temperature at a point
P, a distance x from one end at any subsequent time t seconds. (11 marks)

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