Computer Simulation (U00549)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 8 ? Acronym : PHY-2-CompSim

This course covers the methodologies of solving scientific problems using computers. It provides a training in the computational modelling of scientific problems and their representation using computer graphics. It also provides a grounding in object-oriented programming through the practical application of the Java language. Students will carry out extensive practical and project work.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Mathematics for Physical Science (Year 1) or specialist courses in Mathematics (Year 1). Students should have programming experience (not necessarily of Java) to the level of, for example, Informatics 1B (INF-1-INF1B) or the introductory computing module in Physics 2A (PHY-2-A).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

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

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 2nd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 7 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2008	10:00	11:00	Lecture Room 3218, JCMB	KB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	10:00	10:50	KB

1 of the following 2 classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Laboratory	Tu	14:00	17:00	KB
Laboratory	Th	14:00	17:00	KB

? Additional Class Information : Computational Physics Lab Sessions Tu & Th. If, due to timetable constraints, students are unable to attend scheduled lab sessions, they are expected to fulfil the time commitments of the course outside of scheduled hours.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, it is intended that a student will be able to:

1)Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts of object-oriented programming; data encapsulation, objects and classes, inheritance and polymorphism
2)Analyse a problem statement using the CRC method to produce an object-oriented program design
3)Write Java classes and class heirarchies, and utilise them in simple applications
4)Understand and make use of the Java API for describing the functionality of core classes
5)Utilise and extend the capabilities of existing classes
6)Read data inputs from the keyboard or a file and write data out to the screen or a file
7)Implement methods to handle exceptions and errors arising from abnormal program flow or user input
8)Understand how applications respond to user interaction
9)Design and create simple Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for graphical display and user interaction
10)Create simple drawing objects that can be dynamically resized
11)Graphically depict a system evolving over time