PHYS 252

Always hand in:
  1. written solutions to any questions
  2. a paper print-out of well-commented code. Include a multiline comment at the top of your code with (i) the assignment name, (ii) your name, and (iii) the date you handed in all elements of the assignment
  3. paper print-out of output (graph or text)
  4. also, e-mail me (y-lithwick@northwestern.edu) the code with your name and the exercise number in the subject line

Assignment #10
10pts, due 2pm, May 15

  1. Simulate a wave on a string with fixed ends. Use the parameters in the caption of Figure 6.2, and use equation 6.8 with the parameters just below equation 6.8. Hand in a plot of the string at the time 2.5L/c , where L is the length of the string.
  2. Make a movie of the string simulated in question 1. Note that you can use the files mainloop.gnu and oneframe.gnu (in the Supplementary Info for lecture 8) virtually without change.
  3. Repeat numbers 1 and 2, but this time use periodic boundary conditions, and initialize the velocity so that the Gaussian packet only moves to the right.
  4. Choose one of: 6.2, 6.5, or 6.6 (for 6.6, start off with one left-moving and one right-moving gaussian wavepacket)
  5. Repeat number 3 (periodic BC, right-moving packet), but for a string with dispersion (equation 6.9 in text) with (a) ε=10-4; and (b) ε = -10-5 (note minus sign!). Describe qualitatively what happens differently in the two cases, and explain why based on the dispersion relation.
  6. What do you plan to do for your project? Please give details. What system do you plan to solve? What are the equations? How do you plan to solve them? [Due May 18. This question will count towards your project grade. Hand in a brief (paragraph-long or so) proposal.]