Computational Physics

Code:

FIS2009

Acronym:

FIS2009

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2017/2018 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Physics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:F	42	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	56	162
MI:EF	26	study plan from 2017/18	2	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The students will be introduced to a set of computational methods and to its application in several fields of Physics and Engineering.

Learning outcomes and competences

Identify in the Physics problem and its equations the computational problem. Identify appropriate algorithms to solve those equations. Implement them in a programming language. Analize critically the results obtained, in particular by comparing them with limit scenarioswhose results are known and/or analytically obtainable.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

General knowledge of Mathematics and Physics.

Program

1. Solution of algebraic nonlinear equations(transcendental): root separation methods; Iterative processes; successive bisection; false position; Newton method.

2 Data interpolation and fitting functions: interpolation and fitting techniques.

3 Numerical integration: quadratures, integration for Newton-Cotes formulas, Romberg integration and Gaussian quadrature, Techniques for improper integrals.

4 Linear and nonlinear Dynamical Systems: Initial Value Problems,b Solution of differential equations Solution By Runge Kutta methods, Frontier and shooting method conditions.

5- Chaotic systems, graphical phase space representation, Poincaré sections and bifurcation diagrams, calculation of Lyapunov exponents.

6- Stochastic: pseudo-random numbers, probability distributions and Monte-Carlo methods, random walk, molecular dynamics

Mandatory literature

Newman Mark E. J.; Computational physics. ISBN: ISBN: 978-1-4801-4551-1
Gould Harvey; An introduction to computer simulation methods. ISBN: 0-201-50604-1
Chapra Steven C.; Numerical methods for engineers. ISBN: 0-07-010664-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and computing lab classes for hands-on solution of problems to be solved with the numerical methods taught in class.

Software

Python, matplotlib, numpy, scipy, jupyter notebook
C++, Eigen

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Teste	30,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	20,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must attend 3/4 of scheduled lab classes. They must also turn in the computing projects and minimum grade of 8 in the tests.

Calculation formula of final grade

- Team project (20%).
- 2 Homework (30%).
- Computational Exam (50%).

Observations

Students who obtain more than 16 values must defend the grade in additional test.

Recommend this page Top

Copyright 1996-2025 © Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto I Terms and Conditions I Acessibility I Index A-Z I Guest Book
Page created on: 2025-06-26 at 12:42:43 | Acceptable Use Policy | Data Protection Policy | Complaint Portal