Computational Physics (2nd Edition)

(websites.umich.edu)

75 points | by teleforce 6 hours ago

6 comments

  • lkm0 38 minutes ago

    The matplotlib chapter seems fairly barebones but I remain in awe at this gorgeous latex work

    • friendlyasparag 2 hours ago

      I took Mark Newman’s course some years ago. It was fantastic! Geared at sophomore/ junior year physics major — someone who had completed the basic intro sequence. I am sure this book is also great.

      • vectorcrumb 5 hours ago

        Could somebody provide some opinion on the book and/or accompanying course?

        • braedonwatkins 18 minutes ago

          I read most of the 1st edition (busy), I'm sure it hasn't changed much to the 2nd. I would say it's rather good at an introductory level to the subject!

          It definitely targets physics undergrads who have never programmed so if that's not you then you may feel friction during some chapters. If, like me, you are much more developed in programming than physics you might just want to do the exercises in the first few chapters to check your knowledge and move on to the good bits.

          If you're looking for something more rigorous I would bet [Numerical Recipes](https://numerical.recipes/) is better (I haven't read it but I want to; see "busy").

        • HexDecOctBin 4 hours ago

          What physics do I need to know to follow this book?

          • griffzhowl 3 hours ago

            Looks like not much. The book is about using Python to implement numerical methods, mainly about teaching the Python part, and that's all explained. You might be missing motivation if you don't know any physics, but even so, basic mechanics using differential equations seems to be enough to give context, at least for the earlier parts

            • kordlessagain 31 minutes ago

              Weber's Electrodynamics.

              • mapt 4 hours ago

                > Exercises by chapter

                Click on a chapter to download:

                Chapter 2: Python programming for physicists

                Chapter 3: Graphics and visualization

                Chapter 4: Accuracy and speed

                Chapter 5: Integrals and derivatives

                Chapter 6: Solution of linear and nonlinear equations

                Chapter 7: Fourier transforms

                Chapter 8: Ordinary differential equations

                Chapter 9: Partial differential equations

                Chapter 10: Random processes and Monte Carlo methods

                Chapter 11: Data science

              • ktallett 3 hours ago

                I did a few courses across academic years that were based around this book and it's very handy skills to learn. Whilst perhaps not in the moment, it's a good introduction to implementing functions and equations, before you lead on to the next steps of specific functions and methods of analysis alongside hpc with parallelization.

                • ninjahawk1 3 hours ago

                  good book