Physics 451
Applied Methods in Computational Physics
Fall 2005

5 December 2005

Meeting: DLR 1  11:30 AM - 12:20 PM MWF
Text: Computational Physics by N. J. Giordano & Nakanishi
View the grade spreadsheet [requires acrobat reader--].
 Jump to the HandOut below; or jump to the assignment schedule.

NOTES:  Chapt. I    Chapt. II     Chapt III    Chapt IV

  I. Equations of Motion
    A. Linear First Order Ordinary Differential Equations
    B. Drag
    C. Planetary Motion

 II. Nonlinear Equations of Motion
    A. Driven, Damped Pendulum
    B. Chaotic Behavior

III. Boundary Value Problems
    A. Laplace's Equation
    B. The Heat Equation
    C. Stability & Consistency of Numerical Solutions

IV. Monte Carlo Methods
    A. Random Sampling
    B. Applications
    C. Ising Model

 V. Wave Propagation
    A. Fast Fourier Transform
    B. Wave Motion

VI. Molecular Dynamics 
    A. Many, Many Bodies
    B. Measurement
Realistically, we don't expect to "cover" all these    topics in a single term.  The Sections I, II, & III are necessities; the remainder of the course will be picked & chosen from Sections IV, V, & VI.

Assignment Assigned What Due
0 29 August

Read Chapter 1

 31 August
1 31 August

Chapter 1: 1, 3, 5
Read Chapter 2

 5 September
2 7 September

Section 2.2: 6, 9, 11

 12 September
3 12 September

Section 2.3: 13b
Section 2.5: 25

 16 September
4 16 September

Section 4.1: 1, 5, 6

Hint for for the last part of 4.5:  
Compute analytically the work done by gravity, and the torque.
Note: In the new edition of the text, there is no 4.5a & 4.5b.  Rather, those are listed as separate problems, all called  4.5!  Is that stupid, or what?

 21 September
5 23 September

Section 4.2: 9
Section 4.4: 12, 14

 30 September
6 30 September

Supplementary Assignment

 5 October
7 12 October

  Section 3.2: 7
 Section 3.3: 12
 Section 3.6: 27

 19 October
Exam I  

Chapters 1, 2, & 4 of the text
Chapter I of the outline
Integer vs. Real arithmetic
John Bunny

19 October
8 24 October

Section 5.1:  1, 4, 6
Special Problem on the Heat Equation

 2 November
9 7 November

Section 7.2: 2

 11 November
10 21 November

 Assignment 1 for Chapter Eight

 5 December
Exam II  

Chapters 3, 5 of the text
Chapters II & III of the outline
Logical Operators
Theda Bara

 7 December
11 5 December

Assignment 2 for Chapter Eight

 9 December
Final Exam  

 Chapters 1 & 2 
 Sec. 3.1-3.6
 Sec. 4.1-4.4
 Sec. 5.1 & 5.2
 Sec. 7.1--7.4
 Sec. 8.1 & 8.3-8.5 

 15 December
10:35 AM
   

 Any "HomeWork" found in my mail box when I  come in on 
17 December will be accepted. 

  

Physics 451
Applied Methods in Computational Physics

 Fall 2005

Meeting: Rm. 1 DeLaRoche; 11:30 AM- 12:20 PM  MWF
Text: Computational Physics by N. J. Giordano
Instructor: Dr. J. Kiefer e-mail address: jkiefer@sbu.edu
Office: 21 DeLaRoche
Office Hours: MWF 2:30 – 4:30 PM; or by appointment or by walking in
Web Page: http://web.sbu.edu/physics/courses/phys451.html or through the "courses with pages" link on the departmental web page.

            This course concerns itself with Computational Physics--the solution of physical problems through numerical computation.  The topics covered include the solution of equations of motion, solution of boundary value problems, and simulation. Physical topics beyond the usual scope of courses like Phys 201 or Phys 301 are explored in this course. Those topics are explored through the writing, debugging, and running of computer programs and evaluation of the output of those programs.
            The work of the course consists of three parts: exercises, period exams, and a final examination.  These three parts contribute to the course total score in the following proportions: Exercises(30%); Exams(50%); Final Examination(20%)
            The homework exercises will include the writing and running of computer programs, as well as pencil & paper exercises. The homework exercise assignments each have a due date attached. The score of an assignment submitted after the due date will be multiplied by 50%.  The exams will consist of sample computations done with pencil, paper & calculator and "essay" questions. The purpose of the exams is to provide you opportunities to demonstrate mastery of the physical and computational concepts encountered in the course.
             
Based on the total score for the course, letter grades will be assigned according to the following scheme:

90% . . .

A

86.67% . . .

A-

83.33% . . .

B+

80% . . .

B

76.67% . . .

B-

73.33% . . .

C+

70% . . .

C

66.67% . . .

C-

63.33% . . .

D+

60% . . .

D

56.67% . . .

D-

<56.67% . .

F

Refer to the Student Handbook for information regarding the University policy on Academic Honesty.

Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Disability Support Services Office, Doyle room 26, at 375-2065 as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.