Computational Physics I (PHYS3071)

Course overview

Through a series of integrated projects, students will learn the principles of computational physics and will develop skills in the design of computational solutions to problems in classical, quantum, and experimental physics. The course covers methods of solving coupled systems of ODEs, PDEs using linear algebra and basis transformations, and the basics of machine learning/model fitting to experimental or simulated data.

This course is an introduction to computational physics using a series of projects based in Python. It covers concepts and skills lying at the intersection of physics, applied mathematics and computer science.

In the School of Mathematics and Physics we are committed to creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. We value and respect the diverse range of experiences our students bring to their education, and we believe that this diversity is crucial for fostering a rich culture of knowledge sharing and meaningful exploration. We hold both students and staff accountable for actively contributing to the establishment of a respectful and supportive learning environment.

Bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form are strictly against our principles and against UQ Policy, and will not be tolerated. We have developed a suite of resources to assist you in recognising, reporting, and addressing such behaviour. If you have any concerns about your experience in this course, we encourage you to tell a member of the course teaching team, or alternatively contact an SMP Classroom Inclusivity Champion (see Blackboard for contact details). Our Inclusivity Champions are here to listen, to understand your concerns, and to explore potential actions that can be taken to resolve them. Your well-being and a positive learning atmosphere are of utmost importance to us.

Course requirements

Assumed background

COSC2500, MATH2100.  The students are assumed to have a background in calculus and basic geometrical transforms using calculus and at least a high-school level knowledge of physics (the course will challenge those with only first year level knowledge of physics). Some knowledge of elementary quantum mechanics is useful—but not necessary. They should also have some degree of familiarity with computers and be self-motivated to learn any missing gaps in knowledge.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

PHYS1001, PHYS1002, (MATH2001 or MATH2901)

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

PHYS7073 (co-taught, last offered 2022)

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

There are two 2 hour workshops each week where you will be able to learn about the physics and methods needed to create solutions for your projects. During the first hour of the first workshop each week the lecturers will introduce new concepts so students are particularly encouraged to attend this session.

All classes will be conducted on campus. Consult your personal timetable for times and locations. Students are expected to attend these sessions in person unless they have a valid reason for being unable to attend (such as illness).

• Important: if you are ill, then do not attend any classes in person. 

Aims and outcomes

The course will teach methods of computer-based problem solving for coupled systems of ODEs, PDEs using linear algebra and basis transformations, and the basics of machine learning/model fitting to experimental or simulated data.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Assignment 1

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

20%

Due date

29/08/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Electronically and/or hard copy as specified by the assignment

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Solutions for assessment item/s are planned to be released 7 days after the assessment is due, and as such, an extension after 7 days will not be possible.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Assignment 2

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

20%

Due date

26/09/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Electronically and/or hard copy as specified by the assignment

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Solutions for assessment item/s are planned to be released 7 days after the assessment is due, and as such, an extension after 7 days will not be possible.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Assignment 3

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

20%

Due date

31/10/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Electronically and/or hard copy as specified by the assignment

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Solutions for assessment item/s are planned to be released 7 days after the assessment is due, and as such, an extension after 7 days will not be possible.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item then the listed penalty will be deducted per day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point any submission will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.

Final Examination

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

40%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Students must satisfy the conditions listed in the grade descriptions to pass (grade 4 or higher) the course.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment in this course will be a 2-hour examination similar in style to the end-of-semester examination. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Artificial Intelligence

To pass this course, students will be required to demonstrate a detailed understanding of course material together with a range of associated skills independent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) tools.

For assessment tasks that are completed in-person (including examinations) termed “secure assessment”, the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted unless otherwise advised. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Other non-secure assessment tasks (such as assignments) are designed to help you develop your understanding and skills, and to prepare you for secure assessment. You are thus generally encouraged to complete such assessment without the use of AI/MT, unless explicitly advised to the contrary in the assessment item. In any event, if you choose to use such tools, then you must clearly reference any such use within your submitted work. A failure to reference AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.

Students are encouraged to read the UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) which makes a comprehensive statement about the University's approach to plagiarism, including the approved use of plagiarism detection software, the consequences of plagiarism and the principles associated with preventing plagiarism.

Requesting re-marking/re-grading: 

If you have a query about a practical grade please speak to your tutor in the first instance.

If you have a query about a grade you received on any other assessment item, you must first seek further feedback from the lecturing staff, and then you may complete an online request for a Re-mark. Instructions for how to seek further feedback on the assessment items will be provided on Blackboard at the time of grade release for that item. Note that a re-mark involves the entire assessment item being re-marked by an independent grader, and the new overall score overrides the old score.

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum timeframe applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered, must not exceed four weeks in total. If you are incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, you are advised to apply for Removal of Course.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Course notes (i.e. lecture slides) are provided by the lecturers.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Additional learning activity information

Course notes (i.e. lecture slides) are provided by the lecturers that will also be presented at the workshops.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.