Chris Morling - morlingc@pilot.msu.edu
Course Outline
This is the first in a series of three one credit classes in
physics computations(PHY102,
PHY201 ,
PHY301 ).
The objective of these courses is to
give students a sound knowledge of the important computational
techniques and tools used in physics. PHY102 concentrates
on Mathematica. This is a powerful general purpose program to
do algebraic and numerical calculations, graphics and animation
for a variety of mathematics and physics problems.
During PHY102 you will apply Mathematica
to physics problems drawn from material
covered in PHY183 and/or PHY193H during the same week of class.
In addition to the algebraically solvable problems typically
assigned in courses, you will also solve more complex problems
numerically. Examples include the non-linear pendulum, motion
in a gravitational field and chaos in simple maps.
A weekly worksheet forms the core of the course.
Lab. Schedule - Room 346 Giltner Hall
Tuesday: 7-10pm.
TA: : Chris Morling
Students:Anthony, Carrick, Lockwitz, Poxson, Sliwka, Wells(?),
Ziehmer
Thursday 11:30am - 2:30pm
TA: Chris Morling
Students: Carroll, Green, Jones, Kneisel, Rittersdorf, Young
Thursday: 7pm-10pm.
TA: Chris Morling
Students: Brinkman, Butts, Doemer, Huberts, Klaes, Pelligrini
Pergande(?)
You should set aside at least 2 hours per week to work
through the weekly worksheet.
Course Assessment
75% will come from your solution to the weekly worksheets. For each
worksheet which is not completed your grade is reduced by 0.5. If you
complete all the worksheet you get a 3.0 grade.
25% will come from a one hour practical exam at the end of the semester.
This exam will be held in the last week of semester
during your regular
lab. time. In the exam you will be asked to
perform mathematica functions you have
used in the worksheets during the semester. Nothing new will be
introduced. You will need to know how to use the online help facility.
Lab. Exam
The lab. exam is intended to test how well you know mathematica.
If you know the basic commands well and work efficiently, you
will finish in the allocated 1 hr.
Less than two questions complete -> 0.0
Between two and four questions complete -> 0.5
Four or more questions complete -> 1.0
The worksheets for PHY102
Worksheet 1 - Due Jan. 18th (
html)
Worksheet 2 - Due Jan. 25th (
html)
Worksheet 3 - Due Feb. 1st (
html)
Worksheet 4 - Due Feb. 8th (
html)
Worksheet 5 - Due Feb. 15th (
html)
Worksheet 6 - Due Feb. 22nd (
html)
Worksheet 7 - Due Mar. 1st (
html)
Worksheet 8 - Due Mar. 15th (
html)
Worksheet 9 - Due Mar. 29th (
html)
Worksheet 10 - Due April 5th (
html)
Review sheet 1 - Due April 12th (
html)
Review sheet 2 - Due April 19th (
html)
1 hour lab. exam next week(April 23 or April 25) during your scheduled lab. time
Helpfiles for PHY102
Introduction to
Mathematica (Written by Ellen Lau)
Introduction to
Linux Computing in rm346G.
The
mathematica website
, it is very cool. In particular there are
variety of tutorials
to get you started. In addition the entire
mathematica book is there. You will be asked
to read sections of the
practical introduction to mathematica at various stages of the
course.