Recent Additions to website
Welcome to the Computing II homepage.
(What does the image to the left show?)
Welcome to the Computing II homepage. Computing is an integral part of modern physics. Both
experimental and theoretical physicists rely heavily on computers for tasks ranging from the collection and
analysis of large volumes of data to the simulation of complex physical systems. The Computing II module builds on the
fundamental C programming skills taught in the Computing I module (F31AC1) to cover the use of computer-based
numerical methods in the solution of physics problems.
(What does the image to the left show?)
Please note that at present (Sept. 1999) the Computing II web site is (very much!) still under
construction . It is my aim to develop the site so that it includes not only the lecture notes, coursework sheets,
examples of previous class tests etc.. but also links to educational computational physics web sites.
These links will provide additional information and examples to back up the material discussed in the lectures.
Computer graphics and Java applets
A particular theme running throughout the module is the use of computer graphics to visualise the solutions of various
physics problems. Therefore, an important feature of the Computing II site will be the inclusion of Java applets (and links to applets) that illustrate key physics and numerical methods concepts
(an applet is a small program embedded in and controlled by a larger application such as a world wide web browser). Java is a particularly exciting and
relatively recent development of the Internet which enables the production of dynamic, interactive web sites.
An example of a Java applet is shown to the right. In addition to solving the equation of motion
for the ball, the applet is also interactive - try dragging the ball to a new position using the mouse!
While this is admittedly a rather simple example, there are a large number of systems whose dynamic behaviour
is very difficult or impossible to solve analytically and we must use computer-based numerical methods. An example
of a simple system that exhibits complex behaviour is the damped, driven pendulum - we cover that system in
some detail in Lecture 6: Chaos . (This link features a Java simulation of the pendulum).
Course details
A range of numerical techniques and their application
to various areas of physics will be presented in a series of weekly 1 hour lectures. Running in parallel with the
lectures will be a weekly 1 hr. computing lab. session (in room B11) that will give "hands-on" experience in writing
computer algorithms and programs based on the techniques discussed in the lectures.
If you are interested in seeing a sample Computing II lecture web
page, click on the Lecture 6: Chaos link above. Feedback from students who have previously taken the course is available by clicking on
the Feedback button in the frame above.
Lecture notes, examples of previous class tests and more detailed information on the course (timetable, assessment details, marking standards etc) will be made available
on the site from the start of the Spring semester (Feb. 2000).
Contact Details
Philip Moriarty
School of Physics & Astronomy, Office: B125, Tel. (internal): 15156
E-mail: Philip.Moriarty@nottingham.ac.uk
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Aims and Objectives
There are two primary aims of the Computing II module:
- to develop your ability to solve physics problems and model
physical systems using computer algorithms and numerical methods;
- to extend your knowledge of the C programming language via the development of structured programs.
The lectures and lab. sessions are designed to integrate these areas so that proficiency in C programming
and basic computational physics methods will be gained in parallel.
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Return to the School of Physics & Astronomy web page
Last Updated: 08 September 1999
Philip Moriarty, School of Physics & Astronomy,
University of Nottingham