Computational Methods in Classical Physics

It is the aim of this chapter to enable the readers to implement solutions to problems in the physical sciences with a computer program, and carry out the ensuing computer studies. They will therefore be shown a few basic numerical methods, and the general spirit for mapping physics problems onto a computational algorithm. It is advisable to spend some time actually implementing the exercises proposed, since is only by so doing that one may learn about, and get a feel for, the spirit of scientific computing. Examples are given using the FORTRAN 77 language and the UNIX operating system. The graphics interface used is that of the SUN workstation.