PHYSICS 170E
Introduction to Symbolic Computation
Description: Lecture, one hour; laboratory, three hours. Corequisite: course 105A. Students learn to use Mathematica or other programs to solve variety of mathematical problems that arise in physics. Use of skills developed to solve complicated systems, model behavior, and explore in greater depth other advanced physics topics. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2025 - Everyone knows that this class is pretty easy for a physics upper div elective. I thought it was pretty easy, even though I have never coded before taking the class. Corbin is an engaging lecturer, and he's also quite funny. I do think the lectures can be a bit difficult to follow sometimes since he is just retyping code he already wrote, so we're scrambling to keep up with him, and I and a few other students often did not have working code by the end of the lecture. Corbin was always happy to help us debug the code, though, and he gives very constructive feedback. The course covers lagrangian mechanics, E&M, non-inertial frames, and some quantum at the end (no projects involved quantum). Overall, I feel like I learned a lot about coding in Mathematica, and I recommend it because the skills are applicable outside of the class.
Winter 2025 - Everyone knows that this class is pretty easy for a physics upper div elective. I thought it was pretty easy, even though I have never coded before taking the class. Corbin is an engaging lecturer, and he's also quite funny. I do think the lectures can be a bit difficult to follow sometimes since he is just retyping code he already wrote, so we're scrambling to keep up with him, and I and a few other students often did not have working code by the end of the lecture. Corbin was always happy to help us debug the code, though, and he gives very constructive feedback. The course covers lagrangian mechanics, E&M, non-inertial frames, and some quantum at the end (no projects involved quantum). Overall, I feel like I learned a lot about coding in Mathematica, and I recommend it because the skills are applicable outside of the class.
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