Facilitating Programming Computational Physics Simulations for Tables

Francisco Esquembre, Flix J. Garca-ClementeUniversidad de Murcia, Spain

Wolfgang Christian, Mario BelloniDavidson College, Davidson, NC

startwithwhy.com

Facilitating programming computational physics simulations for tablets

Our approach to Computational Physics

Physics application

C P Math

techniquesCS

hard/software

Taken from A Survey of Computational Physics R. H. Landau, M. J. Pez, and C. C. Bordeianu

(Princeton University Press, 2008)


Physics application

C P Math

techniquesCS

hard/software

Interesting problems (Science)

Physical models

Physical laws

Equations

Contributions:


Physics application

C P Math

techniquesCS

hard/software

Contributions:

Mathematical models

Methods

Analytical

Numerical (algorithms)


Physics application

C P Math

techniquesCS

hard/software

Contributions:

Implementation

Programming

Visualization

GUI (Interaction)


Physics application

C P Math

techniquesCS

hard/software Implementation

Programming

Visualization

GUI (Interaction)

Mathematical models

Methods

Analytical



Physical models

Physical laws

Equations

Contributions:


Physics application

C P Math

techniquesCS

hard/software

But more often than not


Physical models

Physical laws

Equations Implementation

Programming

Visualization

GUI (Interaction)

Mathematical models

Methods

Analytical


Contributions:


We want our students to:

Use CS as the great tool it is

Learn good programming techniques and solid CS foundations

Concentrate most of their time in Science and Modeling

Physics application

C P Math

techniquesCS

hard/software

and allow them to create professional-looking CP

simulations

Motivation and popularization CP is for everyone!

Our proposed tool: Easy Java(script) Simulations

How can EjsS help you teach computational physics?

Simple interface

Powerful tools based on CS best-practices

Tailored to the modeling process

Automates CS tasks


DESCRIPTION

Importance of documentation

HTML editor

XHTML compatible

Translation facilities


MODEL

Simple, yet effective model structure

Variables and algorithms-centered

Powerful ODE editor

Easy to understand by students

Facilitates sharing

Open to the use of third-party libraries


MODEL: ODE Editor

Supports arrays

Different advanced solvers: (Verlet, RK2-3-4-8, BS3(2), KC5(4), Fehlberg8(7), DP(5)4, DP8(5-3), Radau5(4)),

Provides dense output, fine-tunning parameters

Supports Events, Discontinuities, DDE, Zeno-effect and Error-handling

Precision comparable to Matlab solvers


VIEW

Palette of pre-defined view element

Facilitates interactive design

Customizable properties

Bi-directional connection to model variables


BUILD-RUN-TEST CYCLE

Single-click compilation and run

Easy to prototype-test-change

Facilitates group work

Debugging available in Java (Eclipse) and in Javascript (Web browsers)

DEPLOYMENT

Single-click creates a self-contained running simulation

Distributable via Web, e-mail,

Requirements:

Java support (Java): Computers

HTML5-Javascript support (JS): Computers & Tablets

The Easy Java(script) Simulations platform

Modeling tool

Digital librariesReader app

eMail, DropBox,LMS,

sources for simulations

ready-to-runsimulations

DEPLOYMENT AND COLLABORATION


Large catalog of ready to run simulations already available

Source code provided

+500 Java simulations

150 Javascript simulations


Added model elements for Parallel Programming

CPE 2 Session Wednesday 16:45


Added model elements to solve PDE,

for AR and controlling hardware,

and for interfacing with industrial robots

Time for a demo!


Modeling tool


Comes with extra goodies!


Cross-platform compatibility

(A task far from trivial, by the way)


Creating electronic mini-books with simulations couldnt be easier

ePub 3.0 compatible (supported by iBooks, and other popular ePub readers)


EjsS is free for non-commercial use

Simulations created with EjsS can be freely used and shared (we actually encourage you to do so!) for non-commercial use.

Commercial use is allowed under reasonable conditions


The EjsS Reader App is already available in iTunes Store and Google Play (search for EjsS).

There is a Free version of the Reader with some pre-loaded simulations and the possibility of adding 5 more (at a time)

There is a Pro version of the Reader, with no limit of simulations (at the price of a soda).


Modeling tool


The EjsS platform provides tools to support an effective hands-on, project-oriented course on computational physics!

Facilitating programming computational physics simulations for tablets

Francisco Esquembre, Flix J. Garca-ClementeUniversidad de Murcia, Spain

Wolfgang Christian, Mario BelloniDavidson College, Davidson, NC

Thank you very much for your attention!

Documents

Facilitating Programming Computational Physics Simulations for Tables