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Introduction to Computer Simulation Methods, An: Applications to Physical Systems, 3/E
Harvey Gould, Clark University
Jan Tobochnik, Kalamazoo College
Wolfgang Christian

ISBN-10: 0805377581
ISBN-13:  9780805377583

Publisher:  Addison-Wesley
Copyright:  2007
Format:  Paper; 720 pp
Published:  01/09/2006
Status: Instock


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Description

Now in a third edition, this book teaches physical concepts using computer simulations. The text incorporates object-oriented programming techniques and encourages students to develop good programming habits in the context of doing physics. Designed for college students at all levels, An Introduction to Computer Simulation Methods uses Java, currently the most popular programming language. The text is most appropriately used in a project-oriented course that lets students with a wide variety of backgrounds and abilities work together. 


Features

  • All chapters have been thoroughly revised and updated with new material on Java, complex systems, visualization, rigid body dynamics, and relativity.
  • The text emphasizes learning physics through example using computer simulations, in contrast to teaching programming or numerical analysis in isolation. It can be used at a variety of levels within the physics curriculum.
  • The programs are written in Java using the Open Source Physics library (See Open Source Physics: A User’s Guide, by Wolfgang Christian) to make input/output, plots, animation, and routine numerical tasks easy to implement


Table of Contents

 

Preface

  1. Introduction
  2. Tools for Doing Simulations
  3. Simulating Particle Motion
  4. Oscillatory Systems
  5. Few-Body Problems: The Motion of the Planets
  6. The Chaotic Motion of Dynamical Systems
  7. Random Processes
  8. The Dynamics of Many Particle Systems
  9. Normal Modes and Waves
  10. Electrodynamics
  11. Numerical and Monte Carlo Methods
  12. Percolation
  13. Fractals and Kinetic Growth Models
  14. Complex Systems
  15. Monte Carlo Simulations of Thermal Systems
  16. Quantum Systems
  17. Visualization and Rigid Body Dynamics
  18. Seeing in Special and General Relativity
  19. Epilogue: The Unity of Physics



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Author Bios

Harvey Gould uses molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo methods to study glasses, the dynamics of first-order phase transitions, and other problems in statistical mechanics. His work involves the application of computer simulation algorithms as well as renormalization group and cluster methods. Gould recently co-authored the second edition of an undergraduate level text on computer simulation in physics. He can "foresee the day when physics students take a required computational science curriculum comparable in scope to the present day mathematics curriculum."

Gould is a native of California and received his B.A. and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He did postdoctoral work at the National Bureau of Standards and taught at the University of Michigan before coming to Clark University in 1971. His leisure time is spent with his family and listening to music, especially jazz.

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For the Physics & Astronomy Discipline

Astronomy Media Workbook (Download only with SkyGazer 5.0), 7/E
LoPresto
©2012  |  Addison-Wesley  |  On-line Supplement  |  Live
ISBN-10: 0321741242  |  ISBN-13: 9780321741240

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