Week 1. The objectives of the first week include learning how to use the MacOS or Linux to accomplish the following:

1. Make your own folder (directory) inside the Physics 125/225 directory and edit and print the Nisus, ClarisWorks, WriteNow, or TeX file questionnaire. Sign your completed questionnaire before you leave the first laboratory.

2. Open a file, copy a file, change the name of a file, delete a file.

3. Edit and run a True BASIC or Java program. Learn how to correct typos, move lines, find words, etc. Start reading the True BASIC tutorial or Java tutorials.

4. Read Chapters 1 and 2 in Gould and Tobochnik and skim through as much of the text as you can.

5. (Default assignment) Begin Problems 2.1 and 2.2. The main computational objectives during the first two weeks are to understand how to convert a first-order differential equation to a simple difference equation, and to understand how True BASIC handles variables. Or start by converting programs to Java, C/C++, or F. Or start by learning TeX. Or ask me for suggestions

6. Note that in Chapter 2, we are not doing a simulation, but it is still possible to ask some simple "what if" questions. You might find it useful to download the empirical data in Table 2.2. On the Macintosh graphs can be made with KaleidaGraph (recommended) or CricketGraph (easier).

7. Question for physics students: Explain the difference in the effective values of r for black coffee and coffee with cream.

8. Explore the course web site and the site of the associated text.

9. First lab report due on Tuesday, February 2.

Week 2

1. Also due by February 2: Write a paragraph or two (separate from the lab report) briefly summarizing the important points of Chapter 1 as you understand them at this time. In what ways are computer simulations like laboratory experiments? In what ways are they different? What is the difference between a computer simulation and a numerical computation? If you are new to programming, do Exercises 2.1 and 2.2, pages 18-19 and show one of the instructors your solutions. For Macintosh users explain to one of the instructors the difference between closing a file and quitting an application and the difference between Save and Save As.

Week 3

1. All of you forgot to do the following (originally due by February 2). Write a paragraph or two (separate from the lab report) briefly summarizing the important points of Chapter 1 as you understand them at this time. In what ways are computer simulations like laboratory experiments? In what ways are they different? What is the difference between a computer simulation and a numerical computation? If you are new to programming, do Exercises 2.1 and 2.2, pages 18-19 and show one of the instructors your solutions. For Macintosh users explain to one of the instructors the difference between closing a file and quitting an application and the difference between Save and Save As.

2. Next laboratory report due Friday, February 12. Default assignment: Read Chapters 3 and 4 to gain an idea of the similarities in approach to Chapter 2. Do Problem 3.1, especially parts (a) and (b). Don't worry if you do not yet understand the Euler-Richardson algorithm since we do not have to use it until Chapter 4. Download styrofoam data. If you are short of time or are confused by derivatives, skip part (a). Problem 3.3 is more interesting than 3.4. Graduate students and more advanced undergraduates should consider doing Problem 3.6.

Week of February 15

1. The laboratory report, originally due on February 12, is due on Monday, February 15. Also only one of you has remembered the assignment regarding Chapter 1.

2. Suggested problems in Chapter 6: 6.1-6.4, 6.6, and 6.9. Then reread the chapter to obtain a better perspective of how the ideas we have learned in the context of the logistic map can be applied to more complex systems. Due date for next laboratory report: Monday, March 1.

3. Comment on the quote by Robert May on page 128 on the importance of understanding the dynamical behavior of simple nonlinear systems. Write a one to two paragraph statement agreeing or disagreeing with my claim that such an understanding should be an essential part of a liberal arts education. This statement is due by Thursday, February 25.

4. MacOS users: Remember to quit all applications before you leave the laboratory. What is the difference between Quit and Close?

5. Arrays are introduced on pg. 65 in Chapter 4. Study Program vector carefully if you have not used arrays before. Make sure you understand how arrays are passed in True BASIC. Read the Appendices to see how arrays are used in Fortran and C/C++. If you have a chance, compare how the positions, velocities, and accelerations are treated as arrays in Program planet and in Program planet2, pg. 80.

Week of March 1

1. Chapter 7 is a simple introduction to Monte Carlo methods. Suggested problems are 7.1, 7.2, 7.6a-d, and perhaps one of the problems in Sec. 7.4. Also see Problem 12.1. Read Sec. 7.5 on the method of least squares and do Problem 7.14a. Start reading Chapter 11 which also will serve as an introduction to Monte Carlo methods. Chapter 12 discusses more applications of random walks and the generation of random number sequences.

2. Next due date for laboratory report, Friday, March 19.

1. Please start reading Chapter 13 on percolation. We will discuss it in class this week.

2. The next laboratory report will be due on Friday, April 16.

3. The importance sampling program which I discussed in class on April 1 is posted here. I will summarize the method as discussed by Beichl and Sullivan, CiSE 1(2), 71 (1999) later.

1. The next laboratory report is due on Friday, April 16.

2. The importance sampling program which I discussed in class on April 1 is available. A discussion of importance sampling and this method is available in postscript format. The original reference is I. Beichl and F. Sullivan, CiSE 1(2), 71 (1999).

3. Now is a good time to develop a simple Web page. You can start from this simple prototype.

1. Everybody should have started on their project by now. Due dates: next lab report on Monday, May 3; poster session in lab or hallway on Monday, May 3; final report due on May 12, last day of finals.

2. ROCKS AS FRACTALS
   Complex yet strangely beautiful, fractals are mathematical curves and surfaces that look equally rugged no matter how many times you magnify them. For this reason, they have been used to describe all sorts of irregular shapes in nature, including coastlines, arteries, ferns, and rocks. But scientists have done rather badly at proving any of these items are truly fractal--in other words, that they are self-similar over many different size scales. In the 12 April Physical Review Letters, a team of six physicists reports that they have found the best experimental proof of fractality yet, in sedimentary rocks. (Radlinski, et. al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 3078. COMPLETE Focus story. Link to the paper.

Updated 21 April 1999.