Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Scientific Computing Laboratory 1
School	Physics and Astronomy
Department	Physics & Astronomy
Module Code	03 30964
Module Lead	Dr Alan Watson
Level	Honours Level
Credits	10
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites	LI Physics and Communication Skills 2 - (03 01149)
Co-requisites
Restrictions	Students must have taken 03 01149 Physics & Communication Skills 2 or 12240/11235 Computational and Applied Maths. Pre-requisites or equivalent knowledge; the equivalent knowledge will be tested in an entry test.
Contact Hours	Supervised time in studio/workshop-25 hours Guided independent study-75 hours Total: 100 hours
Exclusions
Description	The Y3 Scientific Computing Laboratory builds upon the computing skills acquired in Y1 and Y2. Students develop their expertise in computing through introductory exercises and then undertake a computational-physics project on an advanced physics topic. To achieve the highest marks, they must demonstrate a solid understanding of both the physics and the computing and execute their project with flare and initiative. The module is taught in a PC cluster for five hours per week using the teaching material provided on Canvas. N.B. Students who take both this module and Scientific Computing Laboratory 2 must attend a different computer lab in each module.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Independently develop, test and document a non-trivial scientific computer program that functions correctly with a well-designed user interface; Incorporate library routines into a program to perform more sophisticated calculations, and understand how to verify the correct operation of a program; Obtain relevant background information from a variety of sources; Record and present scientific data in a clear and professional manner; Interpret results scientifically at an appropriate level.
Assessment	30964-01 : Worksheet : Coursework (20%) 30964-02 : Project : Coursework (80%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 100% coursework, including inspection of code, documentation and functionality of program.
Other
Reading List