PHY201 - Physics Computations II (Spring 2012)

Maintained by Jon Pumplin
All course materials and worksheets will be posted here

Instructor:

 Prof. Jon Pumplin     (Office: BPS 3240, e-mail: pumplin@pa.msu.edu, phone: 517-884-5563)

PHY102 and PHY201 will meet simultaneously in Room 1240 BPS (Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building).

There are no lectures: the class is entirely hands-on-keyboard. The lab will be open according to the following schedule: You can expect to spend approximately 2--3 hours per week, during those times, to complete the assignments. If additional time is needed, it will be possible to arrange to have the room open by request at some additional hours.

    Mon 3:00 - 4:00PM
    Tue 12:40 - 1:30PM
    Wed 3:00 - 4:00PM
    Thu 10:20 - 11:30AM (room shared with another class)
    Thu 12:40 - 1:30PM
    Thu 3:00 - 4:00PM
    Fri 9:10 - 11:30AM
    Fri 3:00 - 4:00PM

Course Outline

This is the second in a series of two one-credit classes in physics computations: PHY102 and PHY201. The objective of these courses is to help students gain a working knowledge of important computational techniques and tools used in physics. The first course (PHY 102) concentrates on Mathematica --- a powerful general-purpose program to do algebraic and numerical calculations, graphics and animation for a variety of mathematics and physics problems. The second course (PHY 201) covers C++; this course assumes you have already mastered Mathematica (or one of its competitors such as Matlab or Maple) -- if you have not, you should take PHY 102 before attempting PHY 201.

Course Assessment

  • 75% of your grade will come from your solution to the worksheets.
  • 25% of your grade will come from a one hour practical exam which will be held in the last week of semester during one of the regular lab times.

    Worksheets for PHY201

  • Worksheet 1 -- Due 4pm Friday February 3
  • Worksheet 2 -- Due 4pm Friday February 24
  • Worksheet 3 -- Due 4pm Friday March 23
  • Worksheet 4 -- Due 4pm Friday April 6
  • Worksheet 5 -- Due 4pm Friday April 20

    Final lab exam Thur April 26th (afternoon only) or Fri April 27 -- e-mail me at the beginning of the week to say what time you want to take the exam.

    Reference materials

    Some C++ reference books (printed on actual paper) will be available in the lab room.

    Online references:
  • Introduction to Linux Computing in 1240BPS.
  • Introduction to Mathematica (Written by Ellen Lau)
  • C++ language tutorial
  • A bunch of C++ sample programs from MSU CSE

  • Graphics programs, including xmgrace

  • Introduction to HTML online
  • local html help
  • Other local help manuals (e.g. Latex and related packages).