Class Room: 210 Natural Sciences Building Class Hours: Mon Wed Fri 5:00 - 5:50 p.m. Home Page: http://www.physics.buffalo.edu/ComPhys/ Library Directory: /project/phygons/ComPhys/ on UB Unix Instructor: Dr. R.J. Gonsalves Office Hours: Tue Thu 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. in 323 Fronczak; or by appointment. Telephone: (716) 645-2017 or 645-3043 E-mail: phygons@acsu.buffalo.edu
The goal of this course is to learn how to use a computer to analyze and simulate interesting models of physical systems, many of which are too complicated to solve analytically. In this Spring semester we will choose topics from the second half of the textbook by Gould and Tobochnik. Topics include Molecular Dynamics (Chapter 8), Electrodynamics (Chapter 10), Quantum Mechanics (Chapter 18), Monte Carlo Methods (Chapter 11), Statistical Mechanics (Chapters 16 & 17), Fractals (Chapter 14), and Complexity (Chapter 15).The emphasis this semester will be on learning and using Java to display and animate results of simulations. Java is very similar to C++ which we used last semester. Java is much more convenient than C++ for graphics programming, but it is not as efficient for numerically-intensive calculations.
To benefit from this course you must enjoy working with computers, and you should be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time on the homework assignments. You should also:Because the textbook chapters and topics are relatively independent of one another, it is not essential that you have taken 410/505 in the Fall. Prior experience with Java will not be assumed.
- be familiar with classical mechanics at the level of PHY 301/302, and thermal and modern physics at the sophomore level; and
- have access to a computer with Java and/or C++ development tools (for example, on Sun workstations, or a Windows or Macintosh PC).
There will be a brief assignment due each week based on the material covered in lecture. In addition, there will be one or more project assignments which will be somewhat open ended, and require some research and substantial programming. Graduate students may be given some assignments based on graduate-level physics. You may discuss the assignments with your colleagues, but you are expected to perform and write up the assignments individually. Your assignment may be hand-written, typeset using a word-processing program, or posted in HTML format on your home page if you have one. (If you do post your solutions on your home page, please also submit a printed copy!) Homework and project assignments will count for 70% of your final grade. PHY 411 and PHY 506 students will be graded on different curves.
There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam. These tests will consist of short questions and problems based on the lecture material and the homework assignments. PHY 411 students will have separate and simpler exams. The mid-term exam will count for 10% and the final for 20% of your grade.
If you have a disability, (physical or psychological) and require reasonable accomodations to enable you to participate in this course, such as note takers, readers, or extended time on exams and assignments, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 25 Capen Hall, 645-2608, and also see me during the first two weeks of class. ODS will provide you with information and review appropriate arrangements for reasonable accomodations.
Classes begin ... Tue jan 19 Last day to add or drop courses ... Fri Jan 29 Mid-Term Examination ... Mon Mar 15 Spring recess ... Mon Mar 8 - Fri Mar 12 Last day to resign with "R" grade ... Fri Mar 19 Last day of classes ... Mon May 3 Reading Days ... Tue May 4 & Wed May 5 Final Examination ... Wed May 12 Final examination period ... Thu May 6 - Thu May 13