written by
Corinne A. Manogue and Kerry P. Browne
published by
the Paradigms in Physics Program
This small group activity is designed to help upper division undergraduate students learn how to expand functions in terms of spherical harmonics. Students work in small groups to find the coefficients of a given function expanded in spherical harmonics. The whole class wrap-up discussion includes group presentations focusing on the notion that any function on the unit sphere can be expanded in terms of the orthonormal set of spherical harmonics.
This material is part of the Paradigms in Physics project at Oregon State University. This work promotes the use of active student learning in upper division physics courses. Both learning materials and learning strategies are provided to help both students and instructors.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/quantum/items/detail.cfm?ID=13598">Manogue, Corinne, and Kerry Browne. Paradigms in Physics: Finding the Coefficients of a Spherical Harmonic Series. Corvallis: Paradigms in Physics Program, August 21, 2013.</a>
C. Manogue and K. Browne, (Paradigms in Physics Program, Corvallis, 2008), WWW Document, (http://sites.science.oregonstate.edu/physics/portfolioswiki/doku8408.html?id=activities:main&file=cfylmseries).
C. Manogue and K. Browne, Paradigms in Physics: Finding the Coefficients of a Spherical Harmonic Series (Paradigms in Physics Program, Corvallis, 2008), <http://sites.science.oregonstate.edu/physics/portfolioswiki/doku8408.html?id=activities:main&file=cfylmseries>.
Manogue, C., & Browne, K. (2013, August 21). Paradigms in Physics: Finding the Coefficients of a Spherical Harmonic Series. Retrieved February 7, 2025, from Paradigms in Physics Program: http://sites.science.oregonstate.edu/physics/portfolioswiki/doku8408.html?id=activities:main&file=cfylmseries
Manogue, Corinne, and Kerry Browne. Paradigms in Physics: Finding the Coefficients of a Spherical Harmonic Series. Corvallis: Paradigms in Physics Program, August 21, 2013. http://sites.science.oregonstate.edu/physics/portfolioswiki/doku8408.html?id=activities:main&file=cfylmseries (accessed 7 February 2025).
Manogue, Corinne, and Kerry Browne. Paradigms in Physics: Finding the Coefficients of a Spherical Harmonic Series. Corvallis: Paradigms in Physics Program, 2008. 21 Aug. 2013. 7 Feb. 2025 <http://sites.science.oregonstate.edu/physics/portfolioswiki/doku8408.html?id=activities:main&file=cfylmseries>.
@misc{
Author = "Corinne Manogue and Kerry Browne",
Title = {Paradigms in Physics: Finding the Coefficients of a Spherical Harmonic Series},
Publisher = {Paradigms in Physics Program},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {7 February 2025},
Month = {August 21, 2013},
Year = {2008}
}
%A Corinne Manogue %A Kerry Browne %T Paradigms in Physics: Finding the Coefficients of a Spherical Harmonic Series %D August 21, 2013 %I Paradigms in Physics Program %C Corvallis %U http://sites.science.oregonstate.edu/physics/portfolioswiki/doku8408.html?id=activities:main&file=cfylmseries %O text/html
%0 Electronic Source %A Manogue, Corinne %A Browne, Kerry %D August 21, 2013 %T Paradigms in Physics: Finding the Coefficients of a Spherical Harmonic Series %I Paradigms in Physics Program %V 2025 %N 7 February 2025 %8 August 21, 2013 %9 text/html %U http://sites.science.oregonstate.edu/physics/portfolioswiki/doku8408.html?id=activities:main&file=cfylmseries
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