(January 11,
2010)
PHY
320:Introduction to Computational Physics
Text: Course Manual will
posted on the course website. Detailed bibliography can be found in the lecture
notes.
Web page: PHY320
Spring 2010
(with
links to lecture notes and homework assignments)
Instructor: Ulrich Zurcher,
u.zurcher@csuohio.edu
Science Building, Room 114, Phone: 687-2429
Lecture: SI-117A [Computer
Lab], TR 4-6pm
Office hours: TBA, and
any time you find the instructor in the Science Buildingl!
Prerequisite: PHY 221, 231 (College
Physics), or 241 (University Physics)
Course Description: Elements of modeling of physical
and engineering phenomena using a programming package such as MATHCAD. Topics
covered include solving systems of equations, graphing functions, differential
equations, and random processes (from the CSU undergraduate catalogue).
Course Material: The material covered in the
introductory sequences is covered at an intermediate level. The focus is on
topics from mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and vibrations and waves that
cannot be solved with elementary mathematics but would require more advanced
mathematical techniques used in upper-division courses. In PHY320, these problems are solved
using numerical methods using the MathCad software package.
Lecture
Notes [updated regularly!]
Homework: One homework
assignment per week. The assigned homework is due the following week. Late
homework submissions are not accepted unless by explicit permission from the instructor.
Exams: There are two (2)
midterm exams and one (1) final exam.
If necessary, the final exam will act as the make-up for the final
exam. Students who miss the final
exam will be assigned the letter grade X(F),
Final Project: TBA
Grades: The grade will be
based on a maximum of 1000 points:
|
Homework |
400 points |
|
Midterm Exams (2) |
200 points |
|
Final project |
200 points |
|
Final Exam |
200 points |
[A: 90-100; A-:
85-90; B+: 80-85; B: 75-80; B-: 70-75; C+: 65-70; C: 55-65; D: 40-55; F: <
40]