School of Physics

COSC3011/COSC3911 Scientific Computing/Scientific Computing (Adv)

Senior Physics Module: Computational Physics/Computational Physics (Adv)
Semester 1, 2014
UNIT/MODULE OUTLINE
Unit/Module Description
COSC 3011/3911 Scientific Computing is a 6-credit point unit available to Senior students in a variety of degree
programs, and is a core unit in the Computational Science (COSC) major. Computational Physics is a 2-credit point
module available to Senior physics students. The COSC3011/3911 unit and the CP module have some lectures
and labs taught in common. The unit and the module provide a Senior-level treatment of scientific problem solving
using computers, enabling students to learn a wide range of numerical schemes for solving ordinary and partial
differential equations. Emphasis is placed on the suitability of particular methods to particular problems, and on the
understanding of numerical accuracy and stability. A variety of scientific problems are considered, including
planetary motion, heat diffusion, and traffic flow. Coding is performed with MATLAB, and basic programming
experience is assumed. Example codes are provided which implement the methods and solve science problems.
The lab sessions, assignments, and (for COSC3011/3911 students) a project provide practical experience in
scientific programming and in implementing numerical methods to solve science problems.
Students enrolled in the Advanced unit/module encounter a selection of more challenging laboratory and
assignment questions, and the written examination contains a question for Advanced students only.

Unit Details
Credit points
Offered
Classes

Assumed knowledge
Prohibitions
Assessment

Lecturer

For COSC3011/3911: 6
For the CP module: 2
Semester 1
For COSC3011/3911: Two 1-hour lectures per week and one 3-hour computational lab
per week for 10 weeks
For the CP module: One 1-hour lecture per week and one 2-hour computational lab per
week for 10 weeks
Programming experience in MATLAB
For COSC3011/3911: COSC3011 (for COSC3911), COSC3911 (for COSC3011), COSC
3001, COSC 3301, COSC3901, PHYS3043, PHYS3943, PHYS3044, PHYS3944
For the CP module: COSC3011, COSC3911
For COSC3011/3911: one-hour final examination, two assignments, completion of
computational lab sessions and a project
For the CP module: one-hour final examination, two assignments, and completion of
computational lab sessions
A/Prof. Mike Wheatland (michael.wheatland@sydney.edu.au)

Class timetabling
There are two lectures per week, plus a three-hour computational laboratory class. All classes (lectures and labs)
are held in the Computational Physics Laboratory (Carslaw, Room 177). The lectures and the labs are during
weeks 1-10. Any changes to the schedule of lectures and labs will be advised in class.
Time
Monday 9am

Start Dates
3 March

Monday 12pm

3 March

Class
Lecture (COSC3011/3911)
Lecture (CP module)
Lecture (COSC3011/3911)

Wednesday
1pm-4pm (COSC3011/3911)
1pm-3pm (CP module)

5 March

Computational Laboratory

Senior Physics Computational Physics Module/COSC3011 and COSC3911 Unit Outline

Location
Computational
Physics Lab
Computational
Physics Lab
Computational
Physics Lab

Study resources
There is no textbook for the unit.
The book Numerical Methods for Physics (Second Edition) by Alejandro Garcia is a recommended reference, and
sections of this text are followed by parts of the unit, as indicated in the week-by-week outline below. However, the
unit contains additional material and the lecture presentation is self-contained. Students are not expected to buy
this book, but copies are available at the Co-op bookshop, and have been placed in the 2-hour collection at the
SciTech Library.
The recommended reference on numerical methods is the Numerical Recipes: The Art of Scientific Computing
series (second edition) by Press, Teukolsky, Vetterling, and Flannery. Chapters of these books are available for
download (subject to some restrictions) at www.nrbook.com/a, and copies have been placed in the 2-hour collection
at the SciTech Library. Chapters of Numerical Recipes are also referred to in the week-by-week outline,
This unit uses MATLAB for computation, and basic programming experience in MATLAB is assumed. MATLAB is
available on the computers in the Computational Physics Laboratory (Room 177 in Carslaw). If you wish to
purchase your own copy of MATLAB, a student version is available from the Co-op bookshop for $100, including
documentation on DVD. However, students are not expected to buy a copy (swipe-card access to the
Computational Physics Lab is provided to all students during normal building hours).
A recommended reference on MATLAB programming is Essential MATLAB for Scientists and Engineers by Hahn
and Valentine. This book is available from the university library as an electronic resource, and chapters of the book
may be downloaded free of charge. The second chapter, covering MATLAB Fundamentals, is available directly
from the eLearning pages for this subject. A variety of reference material is also available online for MATLAB,
including the documentation accessible via the help browser command in MATLAB or online at the MathWorks site
(www.mathworks.com).
If you lack programming experience, I recommend that you work through a section of a suitable reference (i.e. a
text) covering the basics of programming, in your own time. It is important to try a lot of examples: attempt any
exercises in the reference. Chapter 2 of Numerical Methods for Physics by Garcia is one option. More coverage is
provided by chapter 2 of Essential MATLAB for Scientists and Engineers by Hahn and Valentine. The first Lab in
week 1 is a MATLAB refresher using examples from this chapter.
The eLearning system (elearning.sydney.edu.au) provides access to lecture and lab notes, codes, and additional
material. eLearning is usually accessed by students through MyUni (sydney.edu.au/myuni), the student portal
providing University information and services. Access to MyUni and eLearning requires a Unikey username and
password that is issued with your confirmation of enrolment. The University provides computer facilities described
on the Student IT pages at http://sydney.edu.au/ict/student/.

Assessment
COSC3011/3911 (6 credit point unit)
Item
Weighting
Laboratory
10%
Assignments
25%
Project
30%
Written exam
35%

Computational Physics (2 credit point module)

Item
Weighting
Laboratory
10%
Assignments
25%
Written exam
65%

Laboratory
The first laboratory session is a refresher in MATLAB, based on chapter 2 of Hahn and Valentine, Essential
MATLAB for Scientists and Engineers. This Lab is mandatory. The laboratory sessions from weeks 2-10 consist of
sets of exercises requiring you to modify the codes introduced in the lectures (available via the eLearning site), and
to write your own codes. The tasks involve implementing numerical methods and solving science problems. The
laboratory sessions support the lecture material, and are a crucial part of the unit. Students work in pairs, with
assistance from tutors and a supervisor. You will be provided with swipe-card access to the Computational Physics
Laboratory (Room 177 in Carslaw) which will give you access during normal building hours. This will provide you
with additional time using the lab computers to work on your assignments, and for COSC3011/3911 students, the
project. You will be given your own computer account so that you can work independently on assignments, and as
needed through semester.
The lab sessions account for 10% of the course. The mark is based on satisfactory completion of the exercises for
each week. The work must be done during the lab class: work done outside the lab class time will not be marked.
The tutor or supervisor will assess completion of the exercises, and record this during the laboratory class. You

Senior Physics Computational Physics Module/COSC3011 and COSC3911 Unit Outline

must get the tutor or supervisor to sign off on your work and record a mark to receive the marks for the week. It is
your responsibility to do this.
You are required to keep a logbook recording the results of your computations. Your logbook need only be handwritten, but should include brief answers to the exercises in the laboratory sessions so that a tutor can determine
that you have satisfactorily completed the exercises. Include relevant derivations, numerical results, explanatory
text, and sketches of any important graphs. The tutor or supervisor will determine and record completion of the
exercises based on discussion with you and reference to your logbook, during the class. You need to supply the
logbook.
Assignments
The assignments consist of a number of questions, requiring you to write codes to solve science problems. There
are two assignments, worth a total of 25% of the total mark. Assignments must be done individually and handed in
to the Physics Office, Room 210.
1. Assignment 1 is due at 5pm on Friday 11 April (end of week 6).
2. Assignment 2 is due at 5pm on Mon 19 May (start of week 11).
Assignments submitted late without permission will incur an immediate 20% late penalty, with a further 20% penalty
accumulating each week until the assignment is submitted. This policy applies by default, unless your lecturer
advises you differently.
You are reminded that, whilst it is acceptable to collaborate on an assignment with other students, you must write
your own version of the answer. For codes this means the new working parts of the code needed for a problem
must be your own work. Submitting the same code as your lab partner (as if it is your own work) is unacceptable.
Doing so fails to show that you have the understanding and skills needed for the task, and fails to acknowledge the
contribution of another student.
Project
The project is a substantial part of the COSC3011/3911 unit, involving three weeks of work (there are no lectures or
labs in weeks 11-13, to allow work on the project), and comprising 30% of the mark. Senior physics students
studying the Computational Physics module do not do the project. The project is due Friday 6 June at 5pm, i.e. the
end of week 13, and should be handed in to the Physics Office, Room 210. A one paragraph summary of the
project topic is due Friday 23 May, i.e. the end of week 11. You may revise the topic at a later date, but failure to
submit a one-paragraph summary on time may result in a deduction of 5% from your project mark. The oneparagraph summary should be e-mailed to the lecturer (m.wheatland@physics.usyd.edu.au).
Project scope and the choice of a topic
The project is an opportunity for you to extend the skills developed in the laboratory sessions, and to pursue your
own interests. You are encouraged to design your own topic, using your general scientific knowledge, or by drawing
on one of the suggestions below. However, please ensure that the scientific model you are solving makes sense.
Do not construct your own model, unless you are sure that it is correct. The project must use MATLAB and should
apply and/or extend upon the material covered in lectures. The project must involve numerical solution of ODEs or
PDEs. The project should be associated with a problem in science, although the emphasis may be more towards
the science or towards the numerical methods applied. The report must provide references, listing any resources or
materials used.
The one-paragraph summary (due 23 May) is a chance to obtain initial feedback via e-mail about the suitability and
difficulty of your chosen topic. The summary should be e-mailed to the lecturer, who will provide some preliminary
advice, recommendations for reading, etc. However, after that initial feedback the project choice and the work itself
should be your own. The level of help provided in the lab sessions is not provided for the project work.
Assessment of the project is via a written report that should be not more than 15 pages in length, excluding
appendices. It may be shorter. The report should introduce the scientific area, explain the modelling and numerical
methods applied, and present a discussion of the results obtained. You should include, as an appendix to the
report, all relevant MATLAB codes. If you use codes other than ones you write yourself, this must be acknowledged
and explained. The lecturer will provide examples of excellent past student project reports for inspection during the
Computational lab sessions.
As part of your project submission, you may perform a demonstration of your codes in the laboratory during week
13. Please arrange with the lecturer if you want to do this.
The recommended references on numerical methods (Garcia and Numerical Recipes) are possible sources of
material for interesting problems. However, you are expected to do additional reading and research to identify and
learn about a topic. Your report must cite all references you have consulted. Your project topic could be a
(significant) extension of one or more of the laboratory exercises, or a scientific system not considered in the

Senior Physics Computational Physics Module/COSC3011 and COSC3911 Unit Outline

course. As starting points, the lecturer will take a number of books with suitable topics to the Computational lab
sessions.
Past student projects have covered diverse topics including the motion of charged particles in specified
electromagnetic fields (orbit theory), solution of the Black-Scholes equation describing financial markets, the threebody problem for orbital motion, solution of Burgers equation describing nonlinear advection, solution of the
Korteweg-de Vries equation describing solitons, solution of the wave equation in 2-D to describe a vibrating drum
skin, multigrid methods, the Generalised Minimum Residual method, and Chebyshev methods. Other possibilities
include modeling the spread of a disease, modeling the evolution of the age structure of a population (using a more
realistic model than the Leslie model), investigating a particular nonlinear system, and investigating symplectic
methods.
Project assessment
The project accounts for 30% of the COSC3011/3911 mark, and is assessed according to: clarity of presentation
(20%); understanding of topic and methods (30%); quality of results (30%), difficulty/novelty of topic (10%); and on
a brief self-reflective statement (10%). Note that the difficulty/novelty category rewards projects involving a
significant extension beyond the course material.
The emphasis in assessment is on the quality of the work and not the quantity. A report may be significantly shorter
than 15 pages and receive high marks. Two crucial points are that that the science problem should make sense,
and that you must correctly implement numerical methods. Do not invent your own model for a system unless you
are certain that it provides a sensible description. It is important to get your codes to work correctly, and to provide
evidence that the codes work correctly, e.g. in application to simple test cases. If there is aberrant behaviour, you
need to work out what is going wrong.
Marks will be awarded in the different categories according to the general guidelines in the Table shown below.
Note that not all of the points listed may be relevant for a given project, depending on the topic and methods
chosen.
Assessment guidelines
Clarity of presentation (20%)

Understanding of topic and

methods (30%)

Quality of results (30%)

Difficulty/novelty of the topic

(10%)

A self-reflective statement (10%)

Are the science context, modeling, numerical methods, and results clearly
presented? If the jargon of a particular field is used, is it explained when
first introduced? Is all notation simple, consistent and correct? Are
explanations brief but sufficiently complete? Are any approximations
being made adequately explained, together with their limitations? Are the
figures well presented, and clearly explained? Are the codes well written,
clear, and adequately documented? Is there a brief conclusion, explaining
what has been found?
Does the report demonstrate understanding of the science, the model,
and the numerical methods? Are any assumptions in the model, and the
basis of the numerical methods explained? Are the methods used
appropriate for the problem at hand? Have alternative methods been
considered? Does the report provide references for the science topic and
for the numerical methods used? Are any aberrant results adequately
accounted for in terms of the method? Are analytic methods used where
necessary?
Does the scientific problem being solved make sense? Are the numerical
methods correctly implemented? Is a solution presented to the problem at
hand? Are the results related back to the problem, and explained in the
context of the problem? Are the results correctly and adequately
interpreted, in the context of the model? Have comparisons been made
between methods, and/or with results in the literature? Has the numerical
method been adequately tested e.g. on an analytic solution? Have
stability and accuracy been considered?
Does the project extend beyond the material in the unit? Are new
numerical methods, or new science topics (i.e. ones not covered in the
unit) introduced? Does the project demonstrate reading and
understanding of literature outside the lecture notes and recommended
references? Does the project involve theory outside of that covered in the
unit? Has the work involved significant or difficult coding?
You should conclude your report with a brief (less than half a page)
reflective statement, in which you describe what you have learnt from the
experience of doing the project. What particular skills have you gained, if
any, and what would you do differently if you did it again? Did you
encounter any particular difficulties? The statement can be
personal/anecdotal it should describe your experience.

Senior Physics Computational Physics Module/COSC3011 and COSC3911 Unit Outline

Projects submitted late without permission will incur an immediate 20% late penalty, with a further 20% penalty
accumulating each week until the project is submitted. This policy applies by default, unless your lecturer advises
you differently.
Written Exam
For Senior Computational Physics students, the written exam is a one-hour section of a three-hour Quantum
Physics and Options exam for the unit that you are enrolled in (e.g. PHYS3043 Quantum
Physics/Astrophysics/Computational Physics). For COSC3x11 students the paper is also a one-hour paper. The
exam is held in an exam room and is not a practical test in the lab. The emphasis is on the formal/theory aspects of
the unit, i.e. numerical methods, including the stability and accuracy of the methods, the application to science
problems, and aspects of basic science modeling. It is a closed book exam: no notes may be taken into the exam
room.

Course content
The following outline lists the topics covered each week in the lectures and labs, the science problems used to
illustrate the topics, and lists the relevant sections of the recommended references. Material unique to the
COSC3011/3911 unit is flagged.
Week 1
Lectures/labs: Review of MATLAB; Types of numerical error rounding and range error, truncation error; An
introduction to Computational Science (COSC3x11); Numerical error and floating point revisited (COSC3x11);
Review of matrix algebra (COSC3x11)
Science problem:
Refs: Hahn & Valentine chapter 2; Numerical Recipes sections 1.3, 2.1, 2.11, 20.1; Garcia section 1.5.
Week 2
Lectures/labs: Ordinary Differential Equations or ODEs dynamics problems; Non-dimensionalisation; Eulers
method for dynamics; Local and global truncation error; The midpoint and Euler-Cromer methods for dynamics
(COSC3x11)
Science problem: Projectile motion
Refs: Garcia sections 1.2. 1.4, 1.5, and 2.1; Numerical Recipes sections 1.3, 2.1, 2.11, 20.1
Week 3
Lectures/labs: Dynamical ODEs continued the Kepler problem; Non-dimensionalisation of the problem;
Elementary numerical methods applied to the problem; The Verlet method; Properties of the Verlet method; Verlet
and symplecticity (COSC3x11)
Science problem: Keplerian orbits
Refs: Garcia section 3.1; Numerical Recipes section 5.7
Week 4
Lectures/labs: General form of ODEs for numerical solution; Runge-Kutta (Taylor series) methods; Fourth order
Runge-Kutta (RK4); Deriving second order Runge-Kutta (RK2); Adaptive time steps (COSC3x11); Stiff problems
the implicit Backwards Euler method (COSC3x11)
Science problem: Simple pendulum
Refs: Garcia sections 2.1, 3.2, and 3.3; Numerical Recipes sections 16.0, 16.1, 16.2, 16.6
Week 5
Lectures/labs: Modularizing RK4; Two-point BVPs and solution via finite differencing and relaxation; Eigenvalue
problems; The quantum SHO (direct solution and solution for the ground state by inverse power iteration); Deflation,
and application to the quantum SHO (COSC3x11); Accelerated convergence by over-relaxation (COSC3x11)
Science problems: stationary states of a quantum system
Refs: Garcia pages 283285
Week 6
Lectures/labs: Partial Differential Equations or PDEs; Classification of PDEs (Initial Value Problems or IVPs and
BVPs); Parabolic PDEs and the diffusion equation; Forward-Time Centred Space discretisation, and solution for
diffusion, numerical stability of FTCS for 1-D diffusion; 2-D diffusion (COSC3x11)
Science problem: the spread of heat
Refs: Garcia sections 6.1 and 6.2; Numerical Recipes section 19.0
Week 7
Lectures/labs: Hyperbolic PDEs and the wave and advection equations; FTCS applied to advection; von Neumann
stability analysis; Lax method for advection; Lax-Wendroff method for advection (COSC3x11); Interpreting Lax and
Lax Wendroff as advection-diffusion equations (COSC3x11)

Senior Physics Computational Physics Module/COSC3011 and COSC3911 Unit Outline

Science problem: the advection of a pulse

Refs: Garcia sections 7.1 and 9.1; Numerical Recipes sections 19.1 and 19.2
Non-teaching week
Week 8
Lectures/labs: Compressible fluid model for traffic; Analytic analysis of the traffic model (nonlinear advection speed,
shock waves/traffic jams, method of characteristics); Cars starting from a set of traffic lights. COSC3x11: Same
material, in some greater depth.
Science problems: various problems to do with traffic flow
Refs: Garcia: Section 7.2
Week 9
Lectures/labs: 2-D elliptic PDEs and the Laplace and Poisson equations; Jacobi and Gauss-Seidel methods of
relaxation for elliptic PDEs; Successive Over-Relaxation or SOR for elliptic PDEs; Convergence rates of elliptic
methods; Fourier methods for elliptic PDEs (COSC3x11)
Science problem: the electric fields around electrical charges
Refs: Garcia sections 8.1 and 8.2; Numerical Recipes sections 19.4 and 19.5
Week 10
Lectures/labs: Order/accuracy of PDE solution methods; Implicit methods for diffusion (Crank-Nicolson); More
general diffusion problems; Stencils (COSC3x11); Numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrdinger equation
(COSC3x11)
Science problem: heat diffusion revisited; evolution in time of a quantum wave packet (COSC3x11)
Refs: Garcia sections 9.2 and 9.3; Numerical Recipes section 19.2 (COSC3x11)
Weeks 1113
There are no formal lectures or laboratory for COSC3x11 students this is time to work on the project.

Where to go for help

If you need help, you can
as a first step, always check your unit eLearning pages for information, documents and links.
go to the Physics Office, Room 210 in the Physics building, or phone 9351 3037.
ask the lecturer or a tutor in the lab sessions.
ask other students using the Discussion forum provided in the Discussions link on the unit eLearning pages.
consult one of the many services provided by the University, such as the Maths Learning Centre. These can
be found at sydney.edu.au/current_students/student_services/index.shtml or through your MyUni pages
sydney.edu.au/myuni.
e-mail or visit your lecturer (A/Prof. Mike Wheatland, Rm 223, 44-70 Rosehill Street (H70),
michael.wheatland@sydney.edu.au)
(for questions about the COSC program) contact the COSC coordinator Dr Pulin Gong
(pulin.gong@sydney.edu.au)

Consideration of factors affecting your study

If your academic performance in a Science Faculty unit of study is adversely affected by illness or some other
serious event, such as an accident, you should notify the Faculty of Science Student Office (level 2 of the
Carslaw building) within 7 days after the period for which consideration is sought, by completing an Application for
Special Consideration with accompanying documentation. This is especially important if you miss an examination.
If you have another reason for the Science Faculty to take account of your circumstances - religious commitments,
legal commitments (e.g. Jury duty), elite sporting or cultural commitments (representing the University, state or
country), or Australian Defence Force commitments (e.g. Army Reserve) - you should notify the Faculty of Science
Student Information Office (level 2 of the Carslaw building) at least 7 days BEFORE the period for which
consideration is sought, by completing an Application for Special Arrangements with accompanying documentation.
These two forms of Consideration should cover most allowable circumstances. However, if you have another
reason for requiring the School of Physics to take account of your circumstances, you should notify the School of
Physics Office immediately.
You should not submit an application of any type if:

there is no assessment associated with a missed class, or

you have a reasonable opportunity to make up any work you missed.

Senior Physics Computational Physics Module/COSC3011 and COSC3911 Unit Outline

If, for example, you miss an assignment, an application for appropriate Consideration is required to allow late
submission, but we do expect the assignment to be submitted. Sometimes catching up may be impossible, in which
case we will consider a pro-rata adjustment of your marks on the basis of an application for Consideration.
Special Consideration or Special Arrangements
To submit an application for Special Consideration or Special Arrangements you should:
1.
2.
3.

Obtain the appropriate Application pack from the Student Information Office of the Faculty of Science, the
Faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/science/cstudent/ug/forms.shtml, or the Physics Office.
Complete the forms and obtain whatever original documentary evidence is appropriate. Note especially that
the Professional Practitioner's Certificate is essential for Special Consideration on grounds of serious illness Medical Certificates will NOT be accepted.
Take the original copy of all forms and documents, plus sufficient copies for each unit of study affected and
yourself, to the Faculty of Science Student Information Office (NOT any other Faculty Office if you are seeking
Consideration in a unit taught by Physics). They will sign/stamp both the original application form and the
copies. In the case of Physics units, one copy of the documentation must then be submitted to the Physics
Office. Keep one copy yourself. A formal decision on your application will be sent to your university email
address within 14 days.

Further details on University policy regarding Considerations can be found in the Academic Board Assessment
Policy at http://sydney.edu.au/ab/policies/Assessment_Policy_2011.pdf. This document also contains details on
other aspects such as Student Appeals against academic decisions.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY/PLAGIARISM
We will NOT accept assessments that are simply copied. Copying the work of another person without
acknowledgment is plagiarism and contrary to University policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
http://sydney.edu.au/policies/showdoc.aspx?recnum=PDOC2012/254&RendNum=0
Academic Dishonesty means seeking to obtain or obtaining academic advantage (for example, in assessments)
by dishonest or unfair means or knowingly assisting another student to do so. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is
not limited to:
(a)

recycling that is, the resubmission for assessment of work that is the same, or substantially the same, as
Work previously submitted for assessment in the same or in a different unit of study (except in the case of
legitimate resubmission with the approval of the examiner for purposes of improvement);

(b)

fabrication of data;

(c)

the engagement of another person to complete or contribute to an assessment or examination in place of the
student, whether for payment or otherwise or accepting such an engagement from another student;

(d)

communication, whether by speaking or some other means, to other candidates during an examination;

(e)

bringing into an examination forbidden material such as textbooks, notes, calculators or computers;

(f)

attempting to read other students work during an examination;

(g)

writing an examination or test paper, or consulting with another person about the examination or test, outside
the confines of the examination room without permission;

(h)

copying from other students during examinations;

(i)

Inappropriate use of electronic devices to access information during examinations.

Plagiarism means presenting another persons work as ones own work by presenting, copying or reproducing it
without acknowledgement of the source. Plagiarism is a form of Academic Dishonesty, but is treated separately.
Plagiarism includes presenting work for assessment, publication, or otherwise, that includes:
(a)

phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs or longer extracts from published or unpublished work (including
from the Internet) without acknowledgement of the source; or

(b)

the work of another person, without acknowledgement of the source and presented in a way that exceeds the
boundaries of legitimate cooperation.

GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES
Graduate Attributes are generic attributes that encompass not only technical knowledge but additional qualities that
will equip students to be strong contributing members of professional and social communities in their future careers.

Senior Physics Computational Physics Module/COSC3011 and COSC3911 Unit Outline

The overarching graduate attributes identified by the University relate to a graduates attitude or stance towards
knowledge, towards the world, and towards themselves. These are understood as a combination of five overlapping
skills or abilities, the foundations of which are developed as part of specific disciplinary study. For further details
please
refer
to
the
Science
faculty
website
at:
http://www.itl.usyd.edu.au/graduateAttributes/facultyGA.cfm?faculty=Science
UNIVERSITY POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND FORMS
For full details of applicable university policies and procedures, see the Policy web site at sydney.edu.au/policy.
Relevant
forms
are
available
on
the
sydney.edu.au/science/cstudent/ug/forms.shtml

Faculty

Forms

and

Procedures

web

site

at

Providing us with feedback

We welcome comments on all aspects of this unit. You should feel free to contact your lecturer, tutors or the COSC
coordinator (listed under "Where to go for help" above) at any time. There is also a formal opportunity for feedback
at the Senior Physics Staff-Student Liaison meeting, held one lunch time towards the end of semester with staff and
student representatives from the various units of study, including this one. Your feedback helps us improve this unit.
Changes this year
Changes this year include:

Inclusion of a MATLAB refresher week (Week 1)

Revision of lecture material for the ODE section in response to feedback in 2013 (Weeks 2-5)

Corresponding revision of Labs for the ODE section (Weeks 2-5)

The Computational Physics module was introduced in 2013 as a result of a comprehensive syllabus review within
the School of Physics. The change was motivated in part by feedback received from students in previous years.

Senior Physics Computational Physics Module/COSC3011 and COSC3911 Unit Outline