Physics 211 - Computational Methods in the Physical Sciences
Computational Methods
Fall
2022
01
4.00
Casey Berger
M 3:05 PM - 4:20 PM; W F 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Smith College
PHY-211-01-202301
Sabin-Reed 305
cberger@smith.edu
This course provides an overview of commonly used computational methods and their applications to physics problems. Using the Python programming language, we will begin with understanding how programs send instructions to computers on to simple data visualization, error analysis and uncertainty in computational calculations, and then progress on to numerical integration and differentiation, machine learning, and stochastic methods. In each case, we will examine the method’s applications to relevant physics scenarios. This course will be project-based, with multiple short projects throughout the semester intended to build the skills and generate a set of modules that can be used as part of a final project applying a computational method to an appropriate physics problem of the student’s choice. Enrollment limited to 30.
[CE] MTH 112 & (PHY 118 or 119)