Computational Methods (VS1) (U02677)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 9 ? Acronym : PHY-3-VCompMeth

The course is an introduction to computational methods in physics, using the Java programming language. It requires the completion of a series of checkpoints covering probability and statistics, vectors, simple harmonic motion and particle dynamics. The material is designed to be accessible anywhere on the campus, through a World Wide Web interface. Checkpoints must be marked by a demonstrator during a timetabled CP Lab session.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U01354

? Pre-requisites : Year 2 Physics and Mathematics.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

1 of the following 4 classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Laboratory	Tu	14:00	15:50	KB
Laboratory	Tu	16:10	18:00	KB
Laboratory	Th	14:00	15:50	KB
Laboratory	Th	16:10	18:00	KB

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion it is intended that the student will be able to:

1)Write simple simulation codes in java; understand java syntax; manipulate ints, floats, doubles and strings; use simple constructs such as loops, conditional statements and arrays; use externally supplied methods for data input and graph plotting
2)Understand the importance of code design and use of pseudocode, commenting and documentation
3)Understand the principles of object oriented coding and difference from sequential programming
4)Incorporate objects written by others into new code
5)Formulate a problem posed by nature in terms of a computer algorithm, either with or without first formulating it mathematically
6)Understand the statistics of data gathering
7)Write code using cartesian vector and complex number operations
8)Solve simple problems in electromagnetism
9)Integrate a differential equation over time, understanding its application to motion of interacting particles, and the use of graphical output for visualization
10)Appreciate the sources of error in a discrete simulation of a continuous systems, deriving from rounding errors and discrete timestep
11)Understand why some integration methods are superior to others
12)Solve chaotic systems of interacting particles numerically, understand why the three-body problem is a problem and the instability of classical atoms
13)Be able to code numerical solutions to mathematical problems arising in all other areas of their physics study