Assignments
Lectures
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Final Exam - Friday, Dec. 18, 2015
3-5pm in C2039. The exam is open book. All paper and electronic notes (including labs and assignments) are
allowed during the exam.
DOWNLOAD SOLUTION OF FALL 2014 Midterm 1 here
DOWNLOAD SOLUTION OF FALL 2015 Midterm 1 here
DOWNLOAD SOLUTION OF FALL 2014 Midterm 2 here
DOWNLOAD SOLUTION OF FALL 2015 Midterm 2 here
DOWNLOAD SOLUTION OF WINTER 2014 Final Exam here
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DOWNLOAD SOLUTION OF FALL 2014 Final Exam here
Objectives
The goal of this course is to integrate computational techniques that are used in physics
with the development of students' knowledge of classical mechanics.
The course will interweave computational techniques with mechanics by having
the students work with computers on mechanics problems during, and after, class.
There will be a mix of regular lecture plus computer activity by the students in a workshop environment.
The programming language will be Mathematica.
We will use Macs during class but the numerical
analysis can be performed on any platform.
First day handout
Topics: Numerical differentiation and integration; Plotting; Projectile motion; Gravitation; Oscillatory and wave motion; curve fitting;
data analysis of experimental measurements.
Details
Lectures: Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm in Room C-2045
(C-2039)
Laboratories: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm in Room C-2039
Required Software: The software to be used in the course, Mathematica, is available on the lab computers.
A student version is available for purchase through www.wolfram.com/solutions/education/students.
If you are eager to start learning, the makers of Mathematica have some useful online tutorials:
Recommended Textbook: Boccara, Nino (2007), Essentials of Mathematica with applications to mathematics and physics, Springer.
An electronic version is available through MUN's library system.
Oxford also has a useful online reference
for numerical analysis.
Course Material (approximate number of lectures)
- Overview (1)
- Review of mechanics problems (3)
- Projectile motion (2)
- Conservative (central) forces (2)
- Numerical differentiation and integration (2)
- Numerical solution of ordinary differential equations (2)
- Harmonic oscillators: simple, damped and driven, coupled oscillator (3)
- Wave equation (2)
- Curve fitting, working with data (2)
Some lecture periods will be devoted to in-class exercises and time to work on assignments.
Evaluation Scheme
- Laboratories: 10%
- In-Class Assignments: 5%
- Assignments: 15%
- Midterm Exam I (Thursday, October 15): 10%
- Midterm Exam II (Tuesday, November 10): 10%
- Final Examination: 50%
Important note: Information required for medical certificates
Lab Schedule
Labs are completed in the lab slot.
| Section 1 | Section 2 |
| September 15 - Lab 1 | September 17 - Lab 1 |
| September 22 - Lab 2 | September 24 - Lab 2 |
| September 29 - Lab 3 | October 1 - Lab 3 |
| October 6 - Lab 4 | October 8 - Lab 4 |
| October 13 - BREAK | October 15 - MIDTERM 1 |
| October 20 - Lab 5 | October 22 - Lab 5 |
| October 27 - Lab 6 | October 30 - Lab 6 |
| November 3 - Lab 7 | November 5 - Lab 7 |
| November 10 -MIDTERM 2 | November 12 - Lab 8 |
| November 17 - Lab 8 | November 19 - Lab 9 |
| November 24 - Lab 9 | November 26 - Lab 10 |
| December 1 - Lab 10 | Tutorial session |
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