Undergraduate Course: Modelling and Visualisation in Physics (PHYS10035)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Physics and Astronomy |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Undergraduate (School of Physics and Astronomy) |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
|
|
| Course description |
This course covers the process of mapping a scientific problem onto a computer algorithm to enable it to be modelled, along with an introduction to Java graphics to help visualise the solution. Example problems will be drawn from the Junior Honours physics programme, with additional examples from 'everyday' problems. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 14:50 | | | | | King's Buildings | Laboratory | | 1-11 | | | | | 14:00 - 17:00 |
| First Class |
Week 1, Tuesday, 14:00 - 14:50, Zone: King's Buildings. JCMB |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion it is intended that the student will be able to:
1)Write complex simulation codes in Java.
2)Design and write simple visualisation software in Java, depicting evolving fields, moving particles, and graphs; interface this software to simulation codes
3)Design and write simple graphical user interfaces in Java.
4)Locate, understand, download and incorporate useful publically-available methods from outwith the course materials using the internet; appreciate the difference between reusable object-oriented coding and plagiarism
5)Understand and apply three major techniques of computer coding: integrating an equation, minimising a function and sampling from a distribution
6)Have completed simulations of molecular dynamics of many particles; cellular automata and the percolation transition; the Ising model for ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetic phase transitions; Maxwell's equations, understanding the usefulness of the vector potential; Develop a deeper understanding of these physical problems through simulation
7)Understand the notion of equilibration of a simulation, and efficient data-gathering, and their relation to simulation time
8)Appreciate the aspects of a code which limit computer performance, the conflict between object-oriented and computationally efficient code, and the occasions where each is to be preferred
9)Appreciate the importance of documentation and commenting in ensuring reusability; Write user guides in English to enable third parties to use the codes.
10)Have built a personal library of methods which will enable the student to complete a simple, unseen coding task effectively and quickly |
Assessment Information
Written assignment based on first computational laboratory checkpoint task, 35%
Oral presentation of simulation methods and results of final task extending the core material, 15%
Unseen practical examination in CP Lab, 50%. |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Richard Blythe
Tel: (0131 6)50 5105
Email: R.A.Blythe@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Mrs Linda Grieve
Tel: (0131 6)50 5254
Email: linda.grieve@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:34 am
|
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