Computation in Undergraduate Physics:
The Lawrence Approach

Transparencies for Talk Delivered as Part of a Panel Discussion at
the March Meeting of the American Physical Socie
Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
25 March 2004
Session W38 (2:30--5:36 PM Room 520E, Palais dex Congres)

David M. Cook
Department of Physics
Lawrence University
Box 599
Appleton, WI 54912

920-832-6721

Email: david.m.cook@lawrence.edu

Department website: http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/physics

Project website: http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/physics/ccli


OHD1: TYPICAL PHYSICS PROGRAM

Term ITerm IITerm III
Freshman Freshman StudiesFreshman StudiesElective
Calculus I*Calculus II*Calculus III*
ElectiveIntro Class Phys*Intro Mod Phys*
Sophomore Electronics*Computational Mechanics*E and M*
Linear Algebra/ODE*ElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective
Junior Quantum Mechanics*Advanced Lab*Physics Elective*
ElectiveElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective
Senior Elective%Physics Elective*Physics Elective*
ElectiveElectiveElective
ElectiveElectiveElective

% Often independent research in physics, but not required for the major


OHD2: PHYSICS ELECTIVES


OHD3: COMPONENTS OF THE LAWRENCE APPROACH

Freshman:

Sophomore:

Junior/Senior:


OHD 4: CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS

Introduces symbolic and numerical computation through examples drawn mainly from classical mechanics but also from classical electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. This course emphasizes computer-based approaches to graphical visualization, the solution of ordinary differential equations, the evaluation of integrals, and the finding of eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Prerequisites: Introductory Classical Physics, Differential Equations and Linear Algebra.


OHD5: COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS

Wk 01 Orientation to UNIX, including Text Editor
Kinematics and Dynamics of Translation and Rotation
Impulse and Momentum
Work and Kinetic Energy
Gravity, Electromagnetic Forces, Friction, Tension

WK 02Orientation to IDL and TGIF (Basic Capabilities; Visualization)

WK 03Equations of Motion:
** Constant Force/Torque
** Force Dependent only on time
** Force Dependent only on position
Potential Energy, SHM and Oscillation about Equilibrium
Work and Potential Energy in 3D

WK 04Velocity-Dependent Forces
Damped and Driven SHM
Resonance
Coupled Oscillations

WK 05 HOUR EXAMINATION
Orientation to LaTeX
Central Forces, Effective Potential, Orbital Equation

Wk 06Planets, Satellites, Comets
MID-TERM READING PERIOD

WK 07Orientation to MAPLE
Using MAPLE to Solve ODEs
Algorithms to Solve ODEs Numerically

WK 08Using IDL to Solve ODEs Numerically

WK 09HOUR EXAMINATION
Symbolic Evaluation of Integrals

WK 10Algorithms to Evaluate Integrals Numerically
Using IDL to Evaluate Integrals Numerically


OHD6: CATALOG DESCRIPTION OF COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS

Treats computational approaches to problems in physics with particular emphasis on finite difference and finite element methods for solving partial differential equations as they arise in electromagnetic theory, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and quantum mechanics, and on techniques for graphical visualization of the solutions.

Prerequisites: Computational Mechanics.


OHD7: TABLE OF CONTENTS:

COMPUTATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING
IN UNDERGRADUATE PHYSICS (CPSUP)

*1. Overview of Materials
*2.Introduction to IDL
3.Introduction to MATLAB
4.Introduction to MACSYMA
*5.Introduction to MAPLE
6.Introduction to Mathematica
*7.Introduction to Programming in FORTRAN and/or C
*8.Introduction to Numerical Recipes
*9.Solving ODEs
10.Introduction to LSODE
*11.Evaluating Integrals
*12.Finding Roots
*A.Introduction to LaTeX
*B.Introduction to TGIF
*Included in version used at Lawrence


OHD8: THE LOCAL GUIDE

(To be locally written following a supplied template)