Course coordinator
I am free on and off throughout the week. Feel free to stop by my office any time. I cannot guarantee my presence.
If you would like a formal meeting, this can be arranged by e-mail or phone to be held in person or over zoom.
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.
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.
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
PHYS1001, PHYS1002, (MATH2001 or MATH2901)
I am free on and off throughout the week. Feel free to stop by my office any time. I cannot guarantee my presence.
If you would like a formal meeting, this can be arranged by e-mail or phone to be held in person or over zoom.
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
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.
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).
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.
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Use computer-based techniques to solve a variety of project-based problems in physics.
LO2.
Define a range of physical problems in terms of equations and mathematical models.
LO3.
Apply basic methods in numerical analysis: integration and differentiation schemes, linear algebra, interpolation, root finding and the solution of differential equations.
LO4.
Analyse and identify numerical stability issues and rounding errors.
LO5.
Visualise computer program output and data and present them in a variety of computer media formats.
Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
---|---|---|---|
Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Assignment 1 | 25% |
30/08/2024 4:00 pm |
Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Assignment 2 | 25% |
4/10/2024 4:00 pm |
Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Assignment 3 | 25% |
25/10/2024 4:00 pm |
Examination |
Final Examination
|
25% |
4/11/2024 - 15/11/2024 |
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.
30/08/2024 4:00 pm
Python programming, indefinite integration to solve initial value problems of particle dynamics, generate report of process and conclusion.
Electronically and/or hard copy as specified by the assignment
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.
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.
4/10/2024 4:00 pm
Python programming, solve 2d or 3d wavefield boundary value problems, generate report of process and conclusion.
Electronically and/or hard copy as specified by the assignment
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.
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.
25/10/2024 4:00 pm
Python programming, investigate machine learning applied to active matter, classify and analyse generated data, generate report of process and conclusion.
Electronically and/or hard copy as specified by the assignment
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.
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.
4/11/2024 - 15/11/2024
This will examine material from the whole course.
Planning time | 10 minutes |
---|---|
Duration | 60 minutes |
Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
Exam platform | Other |
Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Student exam attendance availability needs to be sent to Course Coordinator after scheduled central exam timetable has been received. A reminder will be given at the end of semester. Exam times will be assigned randomly (within ordinary business hours) on the days and times with student and examiner availability.
You may be able to defer this exam.
See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
---|---|---|
1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students will receive this grade if their final mark is less than 20%. |
2 (Fail) | 20 - 43 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students will receive this grade if their final mark is at least 20% and less than 44%. |
3 (Marginal Fail) | 44 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Students will receive this grade if EITHER of the following occurs: (a) their final mark is at least 44% and less than 50% OR (b) their final mark is at least 50% BUT they do not receive at least 40% of the marks on the Final Exam. |
4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students will receive this grade if their final mark is at least 50% and less than 65% AND they receive at least 40% of the marks on the Final Exam. |
5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students will receive this grade if their final mark is at least 65% and less than 75% AND they receive at least 40% of the marks on the Final Exam. |
6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students will receive this grade if their final mark is at least 75% and less than 85% AND they receive at least 40% of the marks on the Final Exam. |
7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Students will receive this grade if their final mark is at least 85% AND they receive at least 40% of the marks on the Final Exam. |
Grades are determined from the nearest whole percent.
The final exam contributes 25% of the final grade and it is an important supervised assessment. Students must obtain a score of 40% or higher in the final exam to pass the course.
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.
Artificial Intelligence
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Pay careful attention to the general university guidelines on plagiarism. You are encouraged to work in small groups while studying and in workshops. However, unless otherwise indicated, assessments must be completed individually, so everything you submit must be your own work. We will regard copying, collaboration or any other form of academic misconduct very seriously; all cases will be actioned.
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:
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:
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.
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Course notes (i.e. lecture slides) are provided by the lecturers.
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
---|---|---|
Not scheduled |
Workshop |
Methods Workshop Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Not scheduled |
Not Timetabled |
Automated Interactive Tutorials Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L05 |
Course notes (i.e. lecture slides) are provided by the lecturers that will also be presented at the workshops.
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:
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.