Computational Methods in Physics
A class at Arizona State University for learning how to use Python (and some software engineering) to solve problems in physics.
Week 10-12 Announcement
For the next three weeks we will learn how to solve partial differential equations (PDEs). PDEs underpin all manner of physical phenomena, as soon as a quantity depends on more than one independent variable. Commonly the independent variables are the three dimensions of space and time. Unlike ordinary differential equations, there’s no “one size fits all” approach. For different types of equations we will need different algorithms. We start with problems in electrostatic (Poisson’s equation), move to diffusion and heat conduction problems (diffusion equation), and close with wave problems (wave equation).
Your Final Project is also about to start, so we will have discussions about the project and your project pitches where you will form your project teams around your project proposals.
Computational Methods in Physics is an undergraduate class run in the Department of Physics at Arizona State University. The instructor is Oliver Beckstein.
The course provides an introduction to using the computer as a tool to solve problems in physics. Students will learn to analyze problems, select appropriate numerical algorithms, implement them using Python, a programming language widely used in scientific computing, and critically evaluate their numerical results. Problems will be drawn from diverse areas of physics.
See About for further information about the class.