Course Meeting

• Physics 251, Introduction to Computer Techniques in Physics (3)
• Lecture Day/Time: Monday-Wednesday 10:30-12:15
• Lecture Place: Innovation Hall, room 320
• George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030

Prerequisite

• PHYS 160
• or Permission of Instructor

Instructor

• Amin Jazaeri, Room 328A, S&T I
• Office telephone with voice mail: 703-993-1203
• E-mail: amin@physics.gmu.edu
• Mail box: Physics and Astronomy Department Office, Room 303, S&T I, 993-1280

Course Website

• physics.gmu.edu/~amin/phys251/phys251

Recommended Texts

• Garcia, A. L. Numerical Methods for Physics, 2nd Edition, Prentice Hall, 2000.
• Reading Resources

Course Description

An introduction to the use of computers in physics based on examples from mechanics and astronomy.

Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are:

1. to familiarize students with a variety of computational techniques of benefit to physicists;
2. to encourage students to become capable using computational techniques to solve physical problems; and
3. to provide the background in computational physics and computational techniques so that students may progress to more advanced courses requiring computational capability.

Computer Literacy Topics

One of the goals in this course is to expose students to a variety of computational topics and techniques that make a physicist computer literate. The only means of becoming computer literate is to actual do the work on a computer. Therefore, it is essential that students plan to spend time on one or several different computer systems to develop some proficiency with computers. It is also essential that students attend class regularly since much of the work will be initiated on the computer during the lecture period.

Lecture Format

This course is not primarily a lecture course. Class time will be used for brief explanations of the topic followed by hands-on computer activities. Weekly assignments will be made in class with time being allotted so that the assignment may be started in class in order to address any potential problems having to do with hardware and software availability. Therefore, regular class attendance is absolutely necessary for success in this course.

Assignments

Individual assignments will be placed on this Web site in conjunction with the course topic currently under discussion (see Course Topics), along with a submission date. Each member of the class is responsible for completing the assignment without outside assistance from members of the class or others, unless specifically stated that assistance is permitted. Written assignments are to be done using the format given in the assignment writeup. Assignments are to be submitted to the instructor or posted to the web on or before the announced deadline for the particular assignment.

Exminations

There will be one midterm exam in this course.

Evaluation and Letter Grade

Evaluation of students in this course is by written (both paper and web documents) and some oral presentation of weekly assignments and the final project. These weekly assignments will be started in class since the course is primarily not a lecture course. The letter grade is based on the following:

30% Midterm (Midterm Exam)

40% Final (Completion of all assignments)

20% Final project and presentation

10% Class Participation

The final grade will be determined at the end of the semester from an assessment of the quality of effort and accomplishment on assignments in written form, oral form, or those placed on each student's web site. Attendance will be taken at each class meeting and will contribute to determining the letter grade for the course.