Scientific Computing Using Python

PHYS:4905 (Special Topics in Physics) - Fall 2019

Syllabus

Instructor:  Prof. Philip Kaaret
Office: 702 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 335-1985
E-mail: philip-kaaret@uiowa.edu
Web: http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~kaaret
Office hours:  Monday 2-3 pm, Thursday 10-11 am, and Thursday 3:30-4:30 pm or by appointment.
Course website: http://homepage.physics.uiowa.edu/~pkaaret/2019f_p4905

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Physics and Astronomy
DEO: Prof. Frederick Skiff
Office: 203 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 335-1686

Description of Course:  An introduction to scientific programming using the python language and an introduction to linear algebra concentrating on aspects used in physics. The course will cover basic programming, input and output of data, computation, processing, graphical output, user interfaces, and how to use the extensive libraries available in python. The topics covered will emphasize matrix techniques, thus providing an introduction to linear algebra from a computational perspective. The linear algebra portion will cover matrices, Gaussian elimination, vector spaces and linear operators, and eigenvalues and eigenvectors.  Physics and astronomy majors may petition for this course to satisfy the linear algebra requirement.

Learning Goals:  Students should gain a basic understanding of scientific programming and the Python language and a knowledge of linear algebra sufficient for upper level Physics courses including Intermediate Mechanics and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I and II.

Attendance:  The class will meet from 12:30 to 1:45 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 201 of Van Allen Hall.

• Students are expected to attend all class sessions and do an additional 6 hours of work outside class per week for a total of about 9 hours per week devoted to this class.  Poor attendance or inadequate effort outside class is likely to affect success in the course.

• Students should feel free to come during office hours or by appointment to discuss any topic related to the course.

Required materials: Students are expected to have access to the programming textbook for the course, which is A Student's Guide to Python for Physical Modeling: Updated Edition by Kinder and Nelson, ISBN-13: 978-0691180571.

Free texts for linear algebra: Students must also have access to the linear algebra textbook for the course, which is Linear Algebra, by Cherney, Denton, Thomas, and Waldron, available at https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~linear/.  Students may also wish to consult Linear Algebra: A Course for Physicists and Engineers by Mathai and Haubold. This book is available electronically for free via the UI Libraries at https://www.degruyter.com/viewbooktoc/product/495839.

Course work: Students will be required to complete assigned reading, complete the assigned homework that includes programming projects, and take exams.

• Reading is listed on the lecture/laboratory schedule.  Students are expected to come to class having already read the sections in the textbook assigned for that class (except for the first class).
  
• Homework consists of assigned problems on the lecture/laboratory schedule.  Each homework assignment must be handed in at the start of class on the assigned date.  Late homework will not be accepted.  Each student's homework must be written up individually, but students are allowed to work on the homework in small groups.
  
• Programming projects will be assigned during the semester as part of the homework assignments.  Students are encouraged to talk with each other about the projects and programming in general.  However, students must write their own code for the programming projects individually.  Duplicate code handed in by two or more students will receive zero scores for both students and may be considered academic misconduct.
  
• Two exams will be given in class.  Each student's exam must be done individually. There will be no final exam.
• The detailed class schedule with reading and homework assignments is posted on the class web site.
  

Grading: The grade in the course will be based on the homework which includes the programming projects (about 60%) and exams (about 40%).  Plus and minus grades will be awarded.

Administration:  The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of this course and governs matters such as the add/drop deadlines, the second-grade-only option, and other related issues. For CLAS policies and procedures including accommodations for disabilities, see the CLAS Teaching Policies and Resources Syllabus insert.