PHYSICS 7534 - Computational Physics
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code PHYSICS 7534 Course Computational Physics Coordinating Unit Physics Term Semester 1 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 6 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites Sufficient Physics and Mathematics knowledge equivalent to 'Assumed Knowledge' Incompatible PHYSICS 3534 Assumed Knowledge PHYSICS 2510, PHYSICS 2532, PHYSICS 2534, MATHS 2101 or MATHS 2201, MATHS 2102 or MATHS 2202 or equivalent Assessment Written examination, projects, assignments & tests Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor David Ottaway
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, students should be able to:- Identify modern programming methods;
- Describe the capabilities and limitations of computational methods in physics;
- Identify and describe the characteristics of various numerical methods;
- Establish tactics for encapsulating and hiding complexity;
- Independently program computers using leading-edge tools;
- Formulate and solve computationally a selection of problems in physics;
- Use the tools, methodologies, language and conventions of physics to test and communicate ideas and explanations;
- Resolve the appropriate paradigm for addressing current computational physics challenges.
University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
2, 5, 6, 7, 8 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1-8 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
4,6,7,8 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1-8 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
2,3,7,8 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
1-8 -
Learning Resources
Recommended Resources
This course requires the following texts and other resources:
Text
- Fortran 95/2003 Explained, Metcalf, Reid and Cohen (Oxford)
References
- Fortran 90/95 Explained, Metcalf and Reid (Oxford)
- Fortran 90/95 for Scientists and Engineers, Chapman (McGraw-Hill Higher Education)
- Fortran 90 Programming, Ellis, Philips and Lahey (Addison-Wesley)
- Numerical Recipes in FORTRAN: The Art of Scientific Computing, Press, et al. (Cambridge University Press)
- Computational Physics -Fortran Version, Koonin and Meredith (Addison Wesley).
- "Mastering Matlab 7" by Duane C. Hanselman and Bruce L. Littlefield, Prentice Hall, 2005 -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
The Course Content consists of 2 components
High-Performance Fortran Component
- Lectures 24 x 50-minute sessions with two sessions per week
- Workshops 12 x 110-minute sessions with one session per week
- Duration 13 weeks including the optional teaching week
- Lecture 2 x 50-minute session per week for the first 6 weeks of semester.
- Practical Session 1 x 3hr session per week for 8 weeks.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours perweek on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g.,lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).Learning Activities Summary
The course content will include the following:
Introduction to UNIX/Linux
-聙 common UNIX commands and options; the emacs editor
-聙 remote access to computer clusters
Programming
-聙 conditional statements
- loops and arrays
-聙 modules, functions and subroutines, scoping of variables
Symbolic computation
-聙 algebraic simplifications, matrix algebra, symbolic differentiation and integration
-聙 analytical solutions of differential equations
Numerical methods
- numerical integration, transformation of variables
-聙 Monte Carlo methods
-聙 finite element methods
Solving Differential equations
-聙 ordinary and partial differential equations, initial value problems, boundary value problems
-聙 Taylor expansion method, Runge-Kutta method
-聙 local and accumulated truncation errors, error control
Modelling
-聙 trajectories and particle motion, linear and nonlinear initial value problems
-聙 Schrodinger equation
- normalization of wave functions, energy levels, orthogonality of wave functions, expectation values, probability calculations
-聙 Monte-Carlo based Markov-Chain techniques for simulating the Ising spin model in statistical mechanics
-聙 problems in electromagnetism and solution by finite elements
-聙 interpolation, interpolating polynomials, errors
-聙 curve fitting and best fits using linear and non-linear least-squares fits
- inverting matrices -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes Hurdle (Yes/No) Learning Outcome Projects Formative and Summative 30%
No 1-8 (not all projects will assess every objective) Fortran Test Formative and Summative 15% No 1-8 (not all projects will assess every objective) Matlab Test Summative 20% No 1-8 Written Examination Summative 35% No 1-8 Assessment Related Requirements
To obtain a grade of Pass or better in this course, a student must attend the examination.Assessment Detail
Projects, Assignments and Tests: (65% of total course grade)
The standard assessment consists of 2 projects and 1 test in the HP-Fortran component and 1 projectand 1 test in the Matlab component. This may be varied by negotiation with students at the start of thesemester. This combination of projects, tests and summative assignments is used during the semester toaddress understanding of and ability to use the course material and to provide students with abenchmark for their progress in the course.Written Examination: (35% of total course grade)One exam is given to address understanding of and ability to use the material examined in the HP-Fortrancomponent of the course
Written Examination: (35% of total course grade)
One exam is given to address understanding of and ability to use the material examined in the HP-Fortrancomponent of the course.Submission
Late submission of assessments. If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that is late(i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days or more late without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the mark.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
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