| WELCOME |
Welcome to ENGR 3703, or (as
I prefer to call it) "Numerical Methods for Future Scientists and Engineers"
I am not kidding. If I do my job, after every class you should come
away with the feeling that what was just covered could be important for
you to know in your future profession as a scientist or engineer.
This
is a course in Physics
for Future Scientists
and Engineers.
It is a semester course that tries
to cover
everything of
importance in applied numerical methods. That is impossible, of course,
but we
will make a
good start. The general outline of topics will roughly follow the
schedule listed in the syllabus. We will focus on the strategy
for the solution of numerical problems, their computer implementation,
verification, and analysis of the results.
|
| DESCRIPTION |
This
course covers the numerical solution of physical problems with the aid
of the computer. We will cover simple but fundamental aspects of
computer simulations with application to selected physical systems. Our
focus will be on the strategy for the solution of numerical problems,
their computer implementation and analysis of the results. Phenomena
addressed include heat flow, orbital mechanics, population dynamics,
fractals, chaotic
systems, and random processes. Mathematical methods such as numerical
differentiation and integration, Euler-Cromer algorithms, Runge-Kutta
methods, and Monte Carlo methods will be developed and used.
My approach is to teach as much
as possible through examples of
things that are important, interesting, or that will be important to
you later on (like when taking the FE Exam, if you are and engineer). I
assume that you have a good chance to become an
outstanding leader in your field (president or CEO of a corporation,
engineer, research physicist or chemist, computer scientist, physician,
etc.), and that this is my chance to teach you the fundamental computational methods
that you will want and need to know not only for later courses at the
university but thoughout your professional career. |
| PREREQUISITES |
It is assumed that you have completed
ENGR 1213 (Engineering Computing), PHY 2014 (Physics for Scientists and
Engineers I), and MATH 3103 (Differential Equations) or concurrent
enrollment.
Familiarity with some programming language is assumed. Students are
expected to have mastered calculus, differential equations, linear
systems of equations, matrices and determinants. To benefit from this
course you be comfortable working with computers, and you should be
prepared to spend a considerable amount of time on the homework
assignments which will involve programming.
A fundamental prerequisite is that you
must be able to come to lectures and study for the course on a daily
basis.
An occasional absence will be
understood provided there is a reasonable excuse (e.g., you were
delayed by a car accident, you have to be away to compete in an
official university sporting event, or your boy/girl friend had to be
picked up at the airport and you were absolutely the only
possible
person able to do this).
|
| REQUIRED TEXTBOOK |
You will need to get a copy of the textbook:
Numerical Methods for Engineers, 5th Ed.
by Steven C. Chapra and Raymond P. Canale
McGraw-Hill, New York, 2006
ISBN 0-073-10156-7
You will need to get your own copy since there will be regularly
assigned readings as well as homework problems assigned from it. |
MEETING TIME
|
MWF 12:00-12:50, Howell Hall 100.
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PROGRAMMING EXERCISES
|
A number of independent computing projects will be
required of each student. These projects will generally be a computer
simulation of a physical system that focuses on material of interest in
physics and engineering. Topics may include analyses of
projectile motion, population dynamics, gravitational boosts, fractals,
diffusion limited aggregates, chaotic systems, particle beam
simulations, cooperative systems, or other system of interest.
|
COMPUTER LANGUAGE
|
You may use any programming
language you wish. However, the official computer language of the
course will be Microsoft's Excel with Visual Basic for Applications
(VBA) in the sense that I will provide materials in this format on the
course website. Time permitting, toward the end of the course, we will
do some symbolic programming using MAPLE.
|
| EXAMS AND GRADES |
We
will have two in-class exams during the semester and a final
exam. All exams will consist of problems similar to the homework.
Makeup exams will not be given for any reason. Students who miss an
in-class hour-exams will have the missed
exam score(s) replaced by their score on Part 2 of the final. All exams
will be closed book and closed notes. You will
be allowed to bring a non-programmable, non-graphing
calculator to use on the exams.
A comprehensive final exam will be given on the
scheduled date for this course — Wednesday,
December 12 @ 11:00 AM - 12:50 PM. The final exam cannot be
given early or
late to accommodate
individual schedules. The final will consist of two parts. The first
part will be over material since the last hour exam and, in effect, be
a third hour exam. The second part will consist of problems covering
material that you have been tested over previously. Students who miss
the final exam should contact their instructor as soon as possible and
no later than the last day of finals week to schedule a makeup exam. If
a university emergency occurs that prevents the administration of a
final examination, the students final course grade will be calculated
based on the work in the course completed to that point in time and the
faculty member’s considered judgment. Final exams will not be
rescheduled, and a grade of "I" will not be given as a result of
the missed exam. Each exam will consist of problems similar to
those assigned in the homework and like those some of you will
encounter on the FE (Fundamental of Engineering) Exam.
Your course grade will be based on the following:
- 20% Homework/Exercises
- 50% Two In-Class Exams (25% Each)
- 30% Final Exam
and use the following grade scale:
- A > 90% >≥ B ≥ 80% > C ≥ 70% > D ≥ 60%
> F .
Beware: it is easier to
earn a low grade than you might think from
this. Every semester I have students who earn a low grade, and write me
saying that now they can't register in their chosen major, or they will
lose their scholarship, and they seek my help. All I can do is cry with
them. The easiest way to get a low grade is to miss class, not keep up,
and not turn in the homework. So if you don't plan on attending class
regularly, putting regular study hours in for this class, and turning
in the homework, save yourself some grief (not to mention money) right
now and withdraw. |
CONTACTING
INSTRUCTOR |
My email address is wwilson@uco.edu.
You can telephone me at my office at 974-5470. My telephone has voice
mail, but I am not very good at checking it regularly so it is probably
better to contact me by email which I do check regularly
My
official office hours: MTWF, 9:00-9:50 AM in
my
office (Howell Hall 221H). Other times by mutual arrangement (email or
telephone to arrange).
Official hours are as listed above, but I am usually around from 9-4
each day during the week whenever I am not teaching class or at other
scheduled meetings. Please feel free to come by any time especially if
you want to talk about physics or school. I would ask you, however, to
avoid the hour just before I teach a class if at all possible. Take
your chances
and drop by unannounced or telephone or email to arrange. |
| HOMEWORK |
Physics and engineering are subjects that can be learned only by working
problems that apply its concepts and principles. For this reason,
regular problem assignments will be made based on the material
covered in lecture. You are encouraged to discuss the homework
assignments with your colleagues, but you are expected to perform and
write up the assignments individually. Each assignment will require you
to understand a physical phenomena, then write, run programs, and
analyze the computer output. Late homework will not be accepted. Success in this course depends on your
ability to solve problems not just your ability to read and follow
someone else’s solutions.
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| ADA STATEMENT |
The University of Central Oklahoma complies with Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special accommodations
must contact the assistant director of Disability Support Services, Kim
Fields, in room 309 of the Nigh University Center, (405)
974-2549. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the
instructor as soon as possible after the DSS has verified the need for
accommodations to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a
timely fashion.
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| STUDENT INFO SHEET |
The UCO administration is now requiring the following
attachment to all course syllabi.
It can also be obtained online at
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