PHYSICS 316 - Computational Physics

Syllabus

Spring 2008 Semester

Course ID Time Days Room
PHYS 316-001 12:45pm - 2:05pm TR TCCW 251

Instructor:
Dr. Alexander Barzilov
Assistant Professor
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY 42101
 Office: Thompson Complex Central Wing, #214
Phone: 270-745-5467     Fax: 270-745-2014
Electronic Mail: alexander.barzilov@wku.edu
Home Page: http://physics.wku.edu/~barzilov/
Office Hours: TR 10:45am - 12:45pm
+ many more by chance or by appointment


Course Objectives

The goal of this course is to introduce students to basic computational techniques and then apply these techniques to a number of modern physics problems. Students will learn how to use computers as tools with which to attack and solve problems which cannot be solved with purely analytical methods. Emphasis will be on physics that can be done with numerical methods.

Course Topics

The course covers the following topics:

  • Introduction to Visual Basic and Object-Oriented Programming
  • General pseudocode to illustrate the algorithms
  • Realistic motion (Euler, Runge-Kutta)
  • Oscillatory motion and chaos
  • Solar system
  • Potentials and fields (Laplace’s Equation)
  • Waves (Fourier transform)
  • Random processes and Monte Carlo methods

Optional topics include Statistical mechanics, phase transitions and the Ising Model, Molecular dynamics, Quantum mechanics, and other interdisciplinary topics.

Textbook

Computational Physics, 2nd edition, by Giordano and Nakanishi (Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0-13-146990-8)

COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS, 2nd edition,
by Nicholas J. Giordano and Hisao Nakanishi
(Publisher: Prentice Hall, ISBN: 0-13-146990-8).

The textbook should be available in the university bookstore before the start of the semester.

Supplementary Materials (recommended but not necessary)

  • C. Pozrikidis, "Numerical Computation in Science and Engineering", Oxford University Press, 1998, ISBN: 0195112539.
  • P. R. Bevington and D. K. Robinson, "Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences", McGraw-Hill Education, 2002, ISBN: 0071199268.

Pre-requisites

Physics 265 or equivalent; CS 240.

Grading Policies

Table 1
Average Score Grade
90 - 100 A
80 - 89 B
70 - 79 C
60 - 69 D
59 and below F

Your grade for Physics 316 will be based on your performance in the class and on your project results using the usual distribution as shown in Table 1 on the left. The overall grade will be based on all the projects done. The weight coefficients are the following: participation - 20%; small projects - 30%; major projects (4) - 50%.

Disability Accommodations

In compliance with university policy, students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student Disability Services in DUC A-200 of the Student Success Center in Downing University Center. The phone number is 745-5004. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor without a letter of accommodation from the Office for Student Disability Services.

Classroom Policies

  • Food and drinks are NOT allowed in the classroom.
  • Cell phones, pagers, and similar devices must be turned off and stored away during class time.
  • The computers in the classroom are for specific class activities only.
    • Do not install or modify any software on the computers.
    • Do not use the computers to check email during class time.
    • Do not use the computers to instant message or chat with anyone ever.
    • Do not browse the internet during class time unless it is part of the class activity.