Physics 350:
Computational Methods
for the Physical Sciences

Spring Semester 2009

Tentative Class Schedule

This schedule is very tentative and we reserve the right to adjust as necessary.   Check the online schedule on the class website for the most up to date subject list and readings.

 

 

Lecture Topics

Lab Activity

Homework

Week #

Week of …

M

W

1

Jan. 11

Taylor's Series
(Boas Ch. 1)

Taylor’s Series and Complex Numbers (Boas Ch. 1 and 2)

The Basics of Maple

2

Jan. 18

No Lecture
(MLK Day)

Complex Plane (Boas Ch. 2)

Maple: Taylor Series and Complex Arithmetic

Problem Set 1
(Thurs., 1/ 22)

3

Jan. 25

Complex Numbers and Special Functions as Series Representations / Internal Representation of Numbers in Computers (Boas. Ch. 2)

Maple: Spherical Coordinates

Problem Set 2
(Thurs., 1/29)

4

Feb. 1

ODEs (Boas Ch. 8)

Maple: Ordinary Differential Equations

Problem Set 3
(Thurs., 2/5)

5

Feb. 8

ODEs and Harmonic Oscillators (Boas Ch. 8)

Maple: Fourier Series

Problem Set 4
(Thurs., 2/12)

6

Feb. 15

Fourier Series

Maple: Orthonormal Functions (Legendre Polynomials)

Problem Set 5
(Thurs., 2/19)

7

Feb. 22

Linear Transformations (Boas Ch. 10)

Maple: Rotational Transforms

Problem Set 6
(Thurs., 2/20)

8

Mar. 1

Linear Transformations (Boas Ch. 10)

Problem Set 7
(Thurs., 3/5)

9

Mar. 8

Matrix Arithmetic

Mid-Term Exam

None

 

Mar. 15

Spring Break (No Classes)

10

Mar. 22

Cancelled due to Flood

11

Mar. 29

Cancelled due to Flood

12

Apr. 5

Programming Techniques

Problem Set 8
(Thurs., 4/9)

13

Apr. 12

Fourier Transforms and Analysis (Boas Ch. 7)

Fourier Transforms and Analysis (Boas Ch. 7)

Problem Set 9
(Friday., 4/17)

14

Apr. 19

FFT
Problem Set 10
(Friday., 4/24)

15

Apr. 26

Discrete Fourier Transforms

IDL: Fast Fourier Transform

Problem Set 11
(Thurs., 4/30)

16

May 3

Wrap-up

Wrap-up

IDL Image Processing

Problem Set 12
(Thurs., 5/7)

The final exam is Monday, May 11, 9-11 AM.