Physics 211 - Computational Methods in the Physical Sciences
Computational Methods
Fall
2023
01
4.00
Manbir Kaur
W F 2:45 PM - 4:00 PM; M 3:05 PM - 4:20 PM
Smith College
PHY-211-01-202401
McConnell 204
mkaur20@smith.edu
This course provides an overview of commonly used computational methods and their applications to physics problems. Using the Python programming language, students begin with learning how programs send instructions to computers, move on to simple data visualization, error analysis and uncertainty in computational calculations, and then progress to numerical integration and differentiation, machine learning and stochastic methods. In each case, students 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. (E)
[CE] MTH 112 & (PHY 118 or 119)