Web-based introduction to the practical numerical solution of ordinary and partial differential equations including considerations of stability and accuracy. Credit will not be granted for both ATSC 409 and ATSC 506/EOSC 511.
The students completing this course will be able to apply standard numerical solution techniques to the solution of problems such as waves, advection, population growth.
Solution of Ordinary Differential Equations (MATH 215 or equivalent) AND a programming course. Partial Differential Equations (Math 316 or Phys 312) is recommended. [1]
This course is not lecture based. The course is an interactive, computer based laboratory course. The computer will lead you through the laboratory (like a set of lab notes) and you will answer problems most of which use the computer. The course consists of three parts. A set of interactive, computer based laboratory exercises, two mini-projects and a final project.
During the meeting times, we will hold short quizzes (just to make sure you are keeping up) and occasionally brief presentations to help with the more difficult sections of the course.
You can use a web-browser to examine the course exercises. Point your browser to:
http://clouds.eos.ubc.ca/~phil/numeric
- Laboratory Exercises 25%
- Quizzes 10%
- Mini-projects 20%
- Project Proposal 10%
- Project 30%
- Project Oral Presentation 5%
1400-1600 Thursdays, Room 203, Earth and Oceans Sciences (EOS) Main
The laboratory problem sets can be given to either instructor when completed. (We have mail boxes in the Earth and Ocean Sciences Main Office). They may be hand written or typed. You may wish or be asked to include plots and diagrams. You can email us plots instead of printing them. Sometimes, rather than a large series of plots, you may wish to include a summarizing table. If you do not understand the scope of a problem, please ask. The time scales given in the Contents section are based on 7 hours/week additional to class time. Help with the labs is available 1) through a mailing list so you can contact your classmates and ask them 2) during the weekly scheduled lab or 3) directly from the instructors. Assignments, mini-projects and the project are expected on time. Late ones will be marked and then the mark will be multiplied by (0.9)^{\rm (number\ of\ days\ or\ part\ days\ late)}. (Below we give two dates for each assignment. You should aim for the first one (this would keep you totally up to date). The later one allows a couple of days in case. )
Each laboratory is separated into sessions of about 2 hours. You may do the sessions any time during the week. You will need to complete three sessions a week to keep up with the course material covered in the quizzes.
- Introductory Meeting
- Laboratory One
- Four sessions: 1) section 3, 2) section 4, 3) section 5, 4) section 6.
- Quiz #1 Objectives [2] pertaining to Lab 1 sections 3-5
- Quiz #2 Objectives pertaining to Lab 1 and Lab 2 sections 3-4.
- Assignment: See web.
- Laboratory Two
- Three sessions: 1) section 3-4.1.1, 2) section 4.1.2-end 4, 3) sections 5-7
- Quiz #2 Objectives pertaining to Lab 1 and Lab 2 sections 3-4.
- Quiz #3 Objectives pertaining to Lab 2 and Lab 3 section 2.
- Assignment: See web.
- Laboratory Three
- Four sessions: 1) section 2- begin 2.4.1, 2) section 2.4.1-end 2, 3) section 3-4, 4) section 5
- Quiz #3 Objectives pertaining to Lab 2 and Lab 3 section 2.
- Quiz #4 Objectives pertaining to Lab 3.
- Assignment: See web.
- Mini-Project #1
- Two sessions
- Details on web.
- Laboratory Four
- Four sessions: 1) section 3, 2) section 4.1-4.2, 3) section 4.3-5, 4) finish problem set
- Quiz #5 Objectives pertaining to Lab 4 sections 3-4.2
- Quiz #6 Objectives pertaining to Lab 4 and Lab 5 section 3
- Assignment: See web.
- Laboratory Five
- Three sessions: 1) section 3, 2) section 4, 3) section 5
- Quiz #6 Objectives pertaining to Lab 4 and Lab 5 section 3
- Quiz #7 Objectives pertaining to Lab 5
- Assignment: 4a, 4b, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3
- Mini-Project #2
- Two sessions
- Details on web.
- Laboratory Seven
- Four sessions: 1) section 3-4.3, 2) section 4.4-4.5, 3) section 5, 4) section 6
- Quiz #8 Objectives pertaining to Lab 7 section 3-4.3
- Assignment: See web.
- Project
- Eight Sessions
- 20 minute presentation to the class
- Project report
| Date | Event |
| Sep 9 | Introduction Class |
| Sep 15 | Quiz 1 |
| Sep 16 | Assign Lab 1 best date |
| Sep 21 | Assign Lab 1 last no penalty date |
| Sep 22 | Quiz 2 |
| Sep 23 | Assign Lab 2 best date |
| Sep 28 | Assign Lab 2 last no penalty date |
| Sep 29 | Quiz 3 |
| Oct 4 | Assign Lab 3 best date |
| Oct 6 | Quiz 4 |
| Oct 7 | Assign Lab 3 last no penalty date |
| Oct 7 | Mini-project 1 best date |
| Oct 13 | Mini-project 1 last no penalty date |
| Oct 13 | Quiz 5 |
| Oct 18 | Assign Lab 4 best date |
| Oct 20 | Quiz 6 |
| Oct 21 | Assign Lab 4 last no penalty date |
| Oct 25 | Assign Lab 5 best date |
| Oct 27 | Quiz 7 |
| Oct 28 | Assign Lab 5 last no penalty date |
| Oct 28 | Mini-project 2 best date |
| Nov 2 | Mini-project 2 last no penalty date |
| Nov 3 | Quiz 8 |
| Nov 8 | Assign Lab 7 best date |
| Nov 10 | Assign Lab 7 last no penalty date |
| Nov 10 | Project proposal best date |
| Nov 17 | Project proposal last no penalty date |
| Nov 30 | Project best date |
| Dec 1 | Project Presentations |
| Dec 2 | Project last no penalty date |
Notes: Assignments are due at 17:00. Quizzes are at 14:00.
On the next page is a suggested schedule.
| [1] | If you do not have PDE’s please see Instructors for Optional Track |
| [2] | Objectives is an older term for Learning Goals |