Physics 256 - Practical Computing for Scientists and Engineers

Eugeniy E. Mikhailov and Greg Bentsen

Fall 2026

Instructors

MWF 11am sections in Boswell Hall 20

Eugeniy E. Mikhailov office hours on Wednesdays at 2pm.

If you want to meet with me outside of office hours, schedule an appointment

I am available at my office SmallHall 253, or in the superposition of my labs 032, 034, or 065.

MWF 1pm sections in Small Hall 111

Greg Bentsen office hours on Tuesdays at 10am in Small Hall 153

TA

Sam Bevins office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-2pm in Small Hall 260

Syllabus

html pdf markdown

Tentative schedule and calendar

Homework

Homework will be posted at Gradescope, feel free to reuse the assignments tex files (posted below) during your report preparation.

Have a look at the sample homework report and steps for its preparation.

HW 01 due Monday 08/31.

Instructions available in pdf and tex format. Feel free to reuse parts of the tex file for your reports.

HW 02 due Monday 09/14.

Instructions available in pdf and tex format. Feel free to reuse parts of the tex file for your reports.

You can convert the data file in relevant python variables using the following code

import numpy as np
# Load the dataset
data = np.loadtxt('hw02dataset.csv', delimiter=',', skiprows=1)
# Extract voltage and current columns
V = data[:, 0]
I = data[:, 1]

HW 03 due Monday 09/21.

Instructions available in pdf and tex format. Feel free to reuse parts of the tex file for your reports.

Midterm 1

The midterm 1 assignment is available. The gradescope will have 3 corresponding parts for code, written part for problem 7, and user manual.

Class materials

Lecture 01

Slides in html and markdown formats

Lab 01

Slides in html and markdown formats

Extra file:

Lecture 02

Slides in html and markdown formats

Lecture 03

Slides in html and markdown formats

Lab 02 (coincide with declared holiday)

Using python and an editor combo

Lab 03

Slides in html and markdown formats

Code archive: lab03_code.zip

Lab 04

Slides in html and markdown formats

Code archive: lab04_code.zip

Lecture 04

Slides in html and markdown formats

Code archive: lecture04_code.zip

Lecture 05

Slides in html and markdown formats

Lab 05

Slides in html and markdown formats

Code archive: lab05_code.zip

Lecture 06

Root finding algorithms

Slides in html and markdown formats

Lecture 07

Numerical integration

Slides in html and markdown formats