The Physics 200 site contains course-related material including notes and examples for Physics 200, Computational Physics, taught at Davidson College by Wolfgang Christian. Physics 200 is taught using the Easy Java Simulations modeling tool.
Although this site is intended primarily for the distribution of curricular material to Davidson College Physics 200 students, it contains resources for anyone interested in teaching computational physics using the Easy Java simulations and/or the Java programming language. These notes and examples are being distributed as part of the Open Source Physics project. We hope this material will make it easy for students to use the computer to explore real scientific problems early in their undergraduate career.
Rationale for a sophomore-level computational physics course:
Since students have different skills, a computational physics course at an undergraduate liberal arts college must be flexible. Some students write well; other students have good graphical design skills; and other students have mathematical ability. Most students will not major in physics and many will not major in science. We believe that computational physics has broad appeal since it is an effective way to develop problem solving skills and to become computer literate. Students perceive that they are not well educated without a good understanding of a computer's power and its limitations. Learning to design a program that communicates an idea is part of this course. So is downloading information via the World Wide Web, FTP-ing homework, getting help from Computer Services, and working with other students and the instructor on extended multi-discipline problems.
Instructor: Wolfgang Christian
Introduction to computer programming using the Java programming language and the Easy Java Simulations modeling tool. Assignments will be based on simulations emphasizing problem solving in science, program writing, and numerical methods in science. A final project of the student's choice is presented in an end-of-term research symposium and published on the Physics Department web server.
Corequisites & Notes
Physics 220 or 230 at Davidson or permission of the instructor. (Offered Spring Semester)