PHYS20762
Computational Physics
10
Semester 2
Undergraduate
Level 2
Saeed Bahramy
Unit coordinator
Draga Pihler-Puzovic
Unit coordinator
Department of Physics & Astronomy
1
FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Middle part of Bachelors '
European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0
<p>Computational Physics introduces students to numerical methods and programming techniques for solving complex physical problems. The course covers high-level scripting languages for data analysis, numerical solutions to ordinary differential equations, and Monte Carlo methods for modelling random processes. Emphasis is placed on practical applications, including simulating physical systems, assessing numerical accuracy, and understanding sources of error. Through hands-on projects, students will develop computational skills essential for modern physics research and problem-solving. </p>
<p>Computational Physics introduces students to numerical methods and programming techniques for solving complex physical problems. The course covers high-level scripting languages for data analysis, numerical solutions to ordinary differential equations, and Monte Carlo methods for modelling random processes. Emphasis is placed on practical applications, including simulating physical systems, assessing numerical accuracy, and understanding sources of error. Through hands-on projects, students will develop computational skills essential for modern physics research and problem-solving. </p>
<p>To introduce students to high-level programming for numerical computing and data analysis, equipping them with practical computational skills relevant to physics applications.</p><p> </p><p>To develop an understanding of classical numerical methods, including Euler and higher-order techniques, for solving ordinary differential equations and analysing physical systems.</p><p> </p><p>To provide a foundation in Monte Carlo techniques and statistical methods, emphasising their role in modelling random processes in stochastic systems and simulating physical phenomena.</p><p> </p><p>To enable students to apply computational techniques to model and analyse real-world physical systems, assess numerical accuracy, and identify sources of error. </p>
<div><i>On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:</i></div><div> </div><div>1. Develop and implement programmes using high-level scripting languages for numerical computing and data analysis in physics.</div><div>2. Apply numerical methods, including Euler and higher-order techniques, to solve ordinary differential equations and model physical systems.</div><div>3. Analyse the effectiveness of Monte Carlo techniques in simulating random processes and evaluating stochastic systems.</div><div>4. Critically evaluate numerical solutions by assessing accuracy, identifying sources of error, and comparing computational approaches in physics applications.</div>
<p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgba(0,0,0,0.87);"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;display:inline !important;float:none;font-family:"Segoe UI", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Computational Physics introduces students to numerical methods and programming techniques for solving complex physical problems. The course covers high-level scripting languages for data analysis, numerical solutions to ordinary differential equations, and Monte Carlo methods for modelling random processes. Emphasis is placed on practical applications, including simulating physical systems, assessing numerical accuracy, and understanding sources of error. Through hands-on projects, students will develop computational skills essential for modern physics research and problem-solving. </span></span></p>
<p>This is a continuously assessed course, structured around asynchronous materials divided into four parts: Week 1, covering a revision of Python 3 and an introduction to Jupyter Notebooks which is the sole programming environment used throughout the course; Weeks 2–3, focusing on Project 1 (Data Analysis); Weeks 4–7, dedicated to Project 2 (Numerical Integration); and Weeks 8–12, where students work on Project 3 (Monte Carlo Method). Each project includes a detailed task description, video instructions, and supplementary resources online. Students also receive in-person feedback from the demonstrators and the unit leads during two three-hour drop-in computer-lab sessions, with each student assigned to one of these sessions. Additionally, a Piazza discussion forum is provided, where students can ask questions and receive answers from their peers, demonstrators, and unit leads. </p><p> </p><h4 class="ui header" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;border-style:none;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);font-family:"Segoe UI", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:1.1rem !important;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.28571em;margin:-0.142857em 0px 1rem;orphans:2;padding:0px;scrollbar-color:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><strong>CUIP Teaching Methods</strong></h4><div class="ui grid" style="-webkit-box-align:stretch;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-webkit-box-orient:horizontal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;align-items:stretch;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);display:flex;flex-flow:wrap;font-family:"Segoe UI", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:-1rem;orphans:2;padding:0px;scrollbar-color:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="five wide column" style="box-sizing:inherit;display:inline-block;padding:1rem;position:relative;vertical-align:top;width:333.854px;"><figure class="table" style="width:305.854px;"><table class="ui table" style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-collapse:separate;border-radius:0.285714rem;border-spacing:0px;border:1px solid rgba(34, 36, 38, 0.15);box-shadow:none;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);font-size:1em;margin:0px;scrollbar-color:auto;text-align:left;vertical-align:middle;" id="teaching_table"><thead class="mobile hidden" style="box-shadow:none;box-sizing:inherit;text-align:inherit;vertical-align:inherit;"><tr style="box-sizing:inherit;"><th style="background-color:rgb(249, 250, 251);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(34, 36, 38, 0.1);border-left-style:none;border-radius:0.285714rem 0px 0px;border-right-color:!important;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);cursor:auto;padding:0.928571em 0.785714em;text-align:inherit;text-transform:none;transition:background 0.1s, color 0.1s;vertical-align:inherit;"><strong>Activity</strong></th><th class="right aligned" style="background-color:rgb(249, 250, 251);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(34, 36, 38, 0.1);border-left-style:none;border-radius:0px 0.285714rem 0px 0px;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);cursor:auto;padding:0.928571em 0.785714em;text-align:right;text-transform:none;transition:background 0.1s, color 0.1s;vertical-align:inherit;"><strong>Hours</strong></th></tr></thead><tbody style="box-sizing:inherit;counter-reset:numdivcounter 0;text-align:inherit;vertical-align:inherit;"><tr style="box-sizing:inherit;"><td style="border-right-color:!important;border-top-style:none;box-sizing:inheri
0
Other
100%
<p>You will carry out 3 short projects (as an individual, not in a pair or group). You must PASS projects 1 (receive more than 40%) to be allowed to submit projects 2 and 3. The final two projects contribute 50% each to the final mark, respectively. </p>
<p>Feedback will be given orally by demonstrators during lab sessions and additional written feedback will be provided with the mark for each project. </p>
PHYS20161
Introduction to Programming for Physicists
Pre-Requisite
Compulsory
N
<h4 class="ui header" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;border-style:none;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);font-family:"Segoe UI", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:1.1rem !important;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.28571em;margin:-0.142857em 0px 1rem;orphans:2;padding:0px;scrollbar-color:auto;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><strong>CUIP Reading List</strong></h4><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);font-family:"Segoe UI", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.4285em;margin:0px 0px 1em;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(65, 131, 196);text-decoration:none;" href="https://www.librarysearch.manchester.ac.uk/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=cdi_proquest_ebookcentral_EBC4184968&context=PC&vid=44MAN_INST:MU_NUI&lang=en&adaptor=Primo%20Central&tab=Everything" target="_blank" title="https://www.librarysearch.manchester.ac.uk/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=cdi_proquest_ebookcentral_EBC4184968&context=PC&vid=44MAN_INST:MU_NUI&lang=en&adaptor=Primo%20Central&tab=Everything"><strong>Learning Scientific Programming with Python</strong></a></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);font-family:"Segoe UI", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.4285em;margin:0px 0px 1em;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Hill, Christian 2015</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);font-family:"Segoe UI", Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.4285em;margin:0px;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Titus, A.B. Introduction to Numerical Programming: A Practical Guide for Scientists and Engineers<br>Garcia, A.L. Numerical Methods for Physics (Prentice Hall 1994)</p>
Practical classes & workshops
36
0
64
<p>All material for the unit, such as videos, example scripts and notes, is available online via Blackboard.</p><p>* Tutorial = online classes</p>