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.
See canvas course page for scheduled class times and location
See canvas course page for office hour locations
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, there will be group worksheets to delve into the material, brief presentations to help with technical matters, time to ask questions in a group format and also individually and time to read and work on the laboratories.
It will be important to read the labs before class to do the worksheets. To encourage good practices there are quizzes on canvas for each lab.
You can use a web-browser to examine the course exercises. Point your browser to:
Laboratory Exercises 20% (individual with collaboration, excellent/satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading)
Mini-projects 30% (individual with collaboration)
Quizzes 5% (individual)
Worksheets 5% (group)
Project Proposal 5% (group)
Project 30% (group)
Project Oral Presentation 5% (group)
There will be 6 assigned exercise sets or ‘Laboratory Exercises’ based on the labs. Note that these are not necessarily the same as the problems in the lab and will generally be a much smaller set. Laboratory exercises can be worked with partners or alone. Each student must upload their own solution in their own words.
The laboratory exercise sets are to be uploaded to the course CANVAS page. 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. Help with the labs is available 1) through piazza (see CANVAS) so you can contact your classmates and ask them 2) during the weekly scheduled lab or 3) directly from the instructors during the scheduled office hours (see canvas).
Laboratory exercises will be graded as ‘excellent’, ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’. Your grade on canvas will be given as:
1.0 = excellent
0.8 = satisfactory
0 = unsatisfactory
Grades will be returned within a week of the submission deadline. If you receive a grade of ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’ on your first submission, you will be given an opportunity to resubmit the problems you got incorrect to try to improve your grade. To get a score of ‘excellent’ on a resubmission, you must include a full explanation of your understanding of why your initial answer was incorrect, and what misconception, or mistake, you have corrected to get to your new answer. Resubmissions will be due exactly 2 weeks after the original submission deadline. It is your responsibility to manage the timing of the resubmission deadlines with the next laboratory exercise.
Your final Laboratory Exercise grade will be calculated from the number of excellent, satisfactory and unsatisfactory grades you have from the 6 exercises: 4 or more submissions at ‘Excellent’, none ‘Unsatisfactory’: 100% 2 or more submissions at ‘Excellent’, none ‘Unsatisfactory’: 90% 1 or fewer ‘Excellent’, none ‘Unsatisfactory’: 80% 1 ‘Unsatisfactory’ submission: 70% 2 ‘Unsatisfactory’ submissions: 60% 3 ‘Unsatisfactory’ submissions: 50% 4 or more ‘Unsatisfactory’ submissions: 0%: [2]
The two mini-projects are longer assignments and slightly open-ended. These mini-projects can be worked with partners or alone. Each student much upload their own solution in their own words.
Quizzes are done online, reflect the learning objectives of each lab and are assigned to ensure you do the reading with enough depth to participate fully in the class worksheets and have the background to do the Laboratory Exercises. There will be a “grace space” policy allowing you to miss one quiz.
The in-class worksheets will be marked for a complete effort. There will be a “grace space” policy allowing you to miss one class worksheet. The grace space policy is to accommodate missed classes due to illness, “away games” for athletes etc. In-class paper worksheets are done as a group and are to handed in (one worksheet only per group) at the end of the worksheet time.
The project will be done as a group. The topic of the project should be selected from a list provided by the instructors or in consultation with the instructors.
Assignments, quizzes, mini-projects and the project are expected on time. Late ones will be marked and then the mark will be multiplied by \((0.9)^{\rm (number\ of\ days\ or\ part\ days\ late)}\).
For each laboratory we give an estimate of number of hours. You will need to complete six hours a week to keep up with the course material covered in the quizzes.
Introductory Meeting
Laboratory One
Estimate: 8 hours
Quiz #1 Objectives [3] pertaining to Lab 1
Assignment: See web.
Laboratory Two
Estimate: 6 hours
Quiz #2 Objectives pertaining to Lab 2
Assignment: See web.
Laboratory Three
Estimate: 8 hours
Quiz #3 Objectives pertaining to Lab 3
Assignment: See web.
Mini-Project #1
Estimate: 4 hours
Details on web.
Laboratory Four
Estimate: 8 hours
Quiz #5 Objectives pertaining to Lab 4
Assignment: See web.
Laboratory Five
Estimate: 6 hours
Quiz #6 Objectives pertaining to Lab 5
Assignment: See web
Mini-Project #2
Estimate: 4 hours
Details on web.
Laboratory Seven (do 7 if you have PDE’s)
Estimate: 8 hours
Quiz #7-7 Objectives pertaining to Lab
Assignment: See web.
Laboratory Six (do 6 if you do not have PDE’s)
Estimate: 8 hours
Quiz #7-6 Objectives pertaining to Lab 6
Assignment: See web.
Project
Estimate: 16 hours
Proposal
20 minute presentation to the class
Project report
UBC provides resources to support student learning and to maintain healthy lifestyles but recognizes that sometimes crises arise and so there are additional resources to access including those for survivors of sexual violence. UBC values respect for the person and ideas of all members of the academic community. Harassment and discrimination are not tolerated nor is suppression of academic freedom. UBC provides appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities and for religious and cultural observances. UBC values academic honesty and students are expected to acknowledge the ideas generated by others and to uphold the highest academic standards in all of their actions. Details of the policies and how to access support are available here
https://senate.ubc.ca/policies-resources-support-student-success.
Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and the Earth Sciences have been historically dominated by a small subset of privileged people who are predominantly male and white, missing out on many influential individuals thoughts and experiences. In this course, we would like to create an environment that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives and experiences, and honours your identities. To help accomplish this:
Please let us know your preferred name and/or set of pronouns.
If you feel like your performance in our class is impacted by your experiences outside of class, please don’t hesitate to come and talk with us. We want to be a resource for you and to help you succeed.
If an approach in class does not work well for you, please talk to any of the teaching team and we will do our best to make adjustments. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated.
We are all still learning about diverse perspectives and identities. If something was said in class (by anyone) that made you feel uncomfortable, please talk to us about it
Students are expected to learn material with honesty, integrity, and responsibility.
Honesty means you should not take credit for the work of others, and if you work with others you are careful to give them the credit they deserve.
Integrity means you follow the rules you are given and are respectful towards others and their attempts to do so as well.
Responsibility means that you if you are unclear about the rules in a specific case you should contact the instructor for guidance.
The course will involve a mixture of individual and group work. We try to be flexible about this as my priority is for you to learn the material rather than blindly follow rules, but there are rules. Plagiarism (i.e. copying of others work) and cheating (not following the rules) can result in penalties ranging from zero on an assignment to failing the course.
For due dates etc, please see the Detailed Schedule.