Science & Computers

Calendar, PHY307/607, Fall 2002

Revised Saturday, Sept. 14

Classes meet from 11:30 AM to 12:50 PM, Tuesday and Thursday. The first meeting will be in Physics Building 106; subsequent meetings will be in either PB 106 or PB 115 (the Physics Building cluster.)

This schedule will change - watch this site and get updates in class.

Week

Aug. 26, 28 - Intro Tues - PB106, Introductory meeting Thurs - PB115, HWK #1 due, intro to Python lab (#1).

Sept. 3, 5 - Starting up Tues - PB106, HWK #2 due. Lecture: What is a computer (Church/Turing, etc.)? Thurs - lab #2 in PB115: making and moving 3D objects.

Sept. 10, 12 - How things change over time. Tues - PB115, HWK #3 due. Simple maps. Lecture + lab (linear maps & graphing using VPython.) Thurs - Reading quiz. PB115: chaotic motion. Lecture (chaos & precision; weather prediction) + complete lab #3 (logistic map.)

Sept. 17, 19 - Chaos. Tues - PB115, HWK #4 due. Output and graphing in Python. Plotting the output of the logistic map (start of lab due Thursday.) Thurs - PB115: Finishing up of bifurcation charts for the logistic and quartic maps, using graphing in Python.

Sept. 24, 26 - Programming and the moons of Saturn, the future of the Solar System. Tues - PB115: HWK #5 due. Predicting the future of smoothly evolving systems: Short lecture on solving problems and asteroid observation and impacts. Thurs - PB115: Reading quiz. Start lab on planetary satellites (short introductory lecture & "canned code".)

Oct. 1, 3 - Solar System and start fractals. Tues - PB115: HWK #6 due. Analyzing data using MATLAB: application to Hyperion data. Extracting data and curve fits. Thurs - PB106: Programming quiz? Written exercises on the Cantor set and the Sierpinski gasket.

Oct. 8, 10 - Fractals. Tues - PB115: HWK #7 due. What is a fractal dimension? (Short lecture and MATLAB demonstrations.) More on drawing conclusions from numbers. Thurs - PB115: PROJECT PROPOSAL DUE. Making artificial trees and clouds using a computer.

Oct. 15, 17 - Strange attractors Tues - PB115: HWK #8 due. Strange attractors - chaos and fractals. Start lab. Thurs - PB115: Reading quiz. complete strange attractors lab.

Oct. 22, 24 - EXAM, randomness in computers. Tues - PB106: MIDTERM EXAM
Thurs -PB115: HWK #9 due. Lecture on Monte Carlo (MC) methods. Start lab on random numbers.

Oct. 29, 31 - Computing by gambling. Tues - PB115: HWK #10 due. Lab on measuring areas using randomness and statistical errors. Thurs -PB106: Reading quiz. Random fractals and random walks. Atoms, drunks, bacteria and stock markets.

Nov. 5, 7 - Aimless walkers. Tues - PB115: HWK #11 due. Random walk lab. Thurs - PB115: PROJECT DRAFT/OUTLINE DUE. Lab using computers to make random fractals (lightning strikes.)

Nov. 12, 14 - Simulating objects that are not points Tues - PB106: HWK #12 due. Lecture on evolution in space: how to model whole objects and surfaces (extended objects.) Thurs - PB115: Reading quiz. Diffusion (random walks again.)

Nov. 19, 21 - Spots and stripes Tues - PB115: HWK #13 due. Reaction-diffusion and the creation of patterns (Turing again!): short lecture on leopard stripes and boiling water. Thurs - PB115: Start reaction-diffusion simulation lab.

Nov. 26 - 307 PROJECT Tues - PB115: FINAL PROJECT DUE (PHY307.) Complete reaction-diffusion lab. [THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY]

Dec. 3, 5 - Advanced computing and waves. Tues - PB115: HWK #14 due. Lecture on advanced computing.Waves on a string (Python lab.) Thurs - PB115: Reading quiz. Waves on strings (Python lab.)
FRI. Dec. 6: GRAD PROJECT DUE (PHY607.)

Week
Aug. 26, 28 - Intro	Tues - PB106, Introductory meeting	Thurs - PB115, HWK #1 due, intro to Python lab (#1).
Sept. 3, 5 - Starting up	Tues - PB106, HWK #2 due. Lecture: What is a computer (Church/Turing, etc.)?	Thurs - lab #2 in PB115: making and moving 3D objects.
Sept. 10, 12 - How things change over time.	Tues - PB115, HWK #3 due. Simple maps. Lecture + lab (linear maps & graphing using VPython.)	Thurs - Reading quiz. PB115: chaotic motion. Lecture (chaos & precision; weather prediction) + complete lab #3 (logistic map.)
Sept. 17, 19 - Chaos.	Tues - PB115, HWK #4 due. Output and graphing in Python. Plotting the output of the logistic map (start of lab due Thursday.)	Thurs - PB115: Finishing up of bifurcation charts for the logistic and quartic maps, using graphing in Python.
Sept. 24, 26 - Programming and the moons of Saturn, the future of the Solar System.	Tues - PB115: HWK #5 due. Predicting the future of smoothly evolving systems: Short lecture on solving problems and asteroid observation and impacts.	Thurs - PB115: Reading quiz. Start lab on planetary satellites (short introductory lecture & "canned code".)
Oct. 1, 3 - Solar System and start fractals.	Tues - PB115: HWK #6 due. Analyzing data using MATLAB: application to Hyperion data. Extracting data and curve fits.	Thurs - PB106: Programming quiz? Written exercises on the Cantor set and the Sierpinski gasket.
Oct. 8, 10 - Fractals.	Tues - PB115: HWK #7 due. What is a fractal dimension? (Short lecture and MATLAB demonstrations.) More on drawing conclusions from numbers.	Thurs - PB115: PROJECT PROPOSAL DUE. Making artificial trees and clouds using a computer.
Oct. 15, 17 - Strange attractors	Tues - PB115: HWK #8 due. Strange attractors - chaos and fractals. Start lab.	Thurs - PB115: Reading quiz. complete strange attractors lab.
Oct. 22, 24 - EXAM, randomness in computers.	Tues - PB106: MIDTERM EXAM	Thurs -PB115: HWK #9 due. Lecture on Monte Carlo (MC) methods. Start lab on random numbers.
Oct. 29, 31 - Computing by gambling.	Tues - PB115: HWK #10 due. Lab on measuring areas using randomness and statistical errors.	Thurs -PB106: Reading quiz. Random fractals and random walks. Atoms, drunks, bacteria and stock markets.
Nov. 5, 7 - Aimless walkers.	Tues - PB115: HWK #11 due. Random walk lab.	Thurs - PB115: PROJECT DRAFT/OUTLINE DUE. Lab using computers to make random fractals (lightning strikes.)
Nov. 12, 14 - Simulating objects that are not points	Tues - PB106: HWK #12 due. Lecture on evolution in space: how to model whole objects and surfaces (extended objects.)	Thurs - PB115: Reading quiz. Diffusion (random walks again.)
Nov. 19, 21 - Spots and stripes	Tues - PB115: HWK #13 due. Reaction-diffusion and the creation of patterns (Turing again!): short lecture on leopard stripes and boiling water.	Thurs - PB115: Start reaction-diffusion simulation lab.
Nov. 26 - 307 PROJECT	Tues - PB115: FINAL PROJECT DUE (PHY307.) Complete reaction-diffusion lab.	[THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY]
Dec. 3, 5 - Advanced computing and waves.	Tues - PB115: HWK #14 due. Lecture on advanced computing.Waves on a string (Python lab.)	Thurs - PB115: Reading quiz. Waves on strings (Python lab.) FRI. Dec. 6: GRAD PROJECT DUE (PHY607.)

FINAL EXAM: Friday, December 13, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. [This exam will have the same weight as the mid-term and will focus on the last half of the course.]

Last Updated: 8/25/02