PH 15710 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS

PH 15710 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS MATHCAD

Introduction • • What can Math. CAD do ? Why is Math. CAD important ? When will we learn Math. CAD ? Which is the best Math. CAD book ? Who do we ask about Math. CAD ? How will we be tested on Math. CAD ? How do we start Math. CAD ?

Congratulations on choosing a hard subject • Physics has: – Right & Wrong answers – Difficult concepts – Hard mathematics – Continual coursework • Math. CAD can help

Degree grade is very important • 30%+ of 18 year olds at university • Not good enough to aim for a pass • Grade affects rest of your career

Degree Outcomes • 1 st International Science, Ph. D • 2. 1 National laboratory, Ph. D • 2. 2 Science officer, teacher • 3 rd Teaching • Pass “Do you want fries, sir? ”

Research Led Teaching • 2 strands – Using lecturers research interests to give direction to undergraduate teaching – Encourage students to learn through discovery

“I can only show you the door …”

No Clowns !! • Turn up • Do the work • Use time wisely • Think about what you are doing

Why use Math. CAD ? • Good ratio of answers/keystroke • Uses mathematical notation • Uses units & dimensions

Example - C (* Program to calculate mass of water tank *) (* C code version *) #include stdio. h #include math. h main() { • Calculate mass of tank of water float R, H, Rho, V, M; R = 2; H = 1. 8; Rho = 1000; V = 3. 1316 * pow(R, 2) * H; M = Rho * V; printf("V = %f n M = %f", V, M ); } • 12 lines • 185 characters

Example - Pascal (* Program to calculate mass of water tank *) (* Pascal code version *) program tank(input, output); var R, H, Rho, V, M : real; begin • Calculate mass of tank of water R : = 2; H : = 1. 8; Rho : = 1000; V : = 3. 1316 * R * H; M : = Rho * V; writeln('V =', V); writeln('M =', M); end. • 195 characters

Example - Labview

Example - Math. CAD • 75 keystrokes • Units calculated

What can Math. CAD do ? - Simple Calculations

What can Math. CAD do ? - Process equations NB. Use of units

What can Math. CAD do? – Help visualise maths & physics • Electron wave function

What can Math. CAD do? - Process experimental results

What can Math. CAD do? - Symbolic algebra

What can Math. CAD do? - Calculus

What can Math. CAD do? Animation 1 – Projectile Motion

What can Math. CAD do? Animation 2 – Planetary Orbits

What CAN’T Math. CAD do ? • Process huge amounts of data • Work in real time • Control test equipment • Work that fast – Use Labview to control test gear

Why is Math. CAD important ? • Forms core of computing on UWA physics course • Can be used in most aspects of physics degree scheme • A useful tool for the rest of your professional life

When will we learn Math. CAD ? • Spread over 3 years • Year 1 – Fundamentals, units, matrices • Year 2 – Data Analysis, symbolic maths • Year 3 – Numeric methods, ODEs, Animations, fancy stuff

First year Course • 8 lectures/practicals • Worksheets to lead you step by step • Worksheets & lecture notes available on the web: http: //users. aber. ac. uk/dpl

Which is the best Math. CAD book ? • An Introduction to Math. CAD 2000 • R. W. Larsen • Prentice Hall • ISBN 0– 13– 020007– 7 • £ 12. 99 – Buy it now

Who do we ask about Math. CAD ? • Online Help system – Math. CAD Help, Resource Centre • UWA Staff: – dpl, kb & demonstrators • Web: – http: //www. mathcad. com (resources|Math. CAD files around the world) – Or via online help system

How will we be tested on Math. CAD ? • 40% of lab module • Portfolio of exercises (10%) • Assessed exercise at end (30%)

How do we start using Math. CAD ? • Site licensed • On computer unit machines: Start Menu|Courseware|Physics|Math. CAD 8 Professional • On Year 1 lab machines: Start Menu|Programs|Mathsoft Apps|Math. CAD 8 Professional

Which bits of Math. CAD will give us problems ? • Editing/Selecting equations • Types of Equals signs

Editing & Selecting Equations • Blue underline & insertion line enclose expressions • Use arrow keys & spacebar to move Insertion point Underline

Selecting expressions • Click in expression with mouse • Use to select more/less of expression • Use arrow keys to move around in expression • Insertion point is where things happen

Using the spacebar • Spacebar select more & more of expression & then returns to start space

Using the spacebar #2 • What gets selected depends on where you start

Arrow & Insert keys • Arrow keys move insertion point • Insert key swaps sides Insert

Placeholders • Black rectangle • Holder for expression that needs to be filled in Placeholder

Practice Makes Perfect • Invest time in Math. CAD • Use for: – Example sheets – Other coursework – Visualising concepts in lectures

What do we do now ? • Login • Work through exercise sheet 1 “First steps with Math. CAD” • Notes & Handouts from: http: //users. aber. ac. uk/dpl & follow “Course Material” link