AST5110 – Numerical Modeling
Course description
Course content
This course provides an introduction to numerical methods used in astrophysics and especially in the modeling of systems described by the partial?differential?equations (PDE).
Learning outcome
After completing?this?course, you:
- have knowledge of discretization of simple?PDE?s such as the advection equation
- are able to examine?the stability of difference?equations using von Neumann stability analysis
- have a thorough knowledge of?implicit and explicit numerical schemes and solution techniques for these
- will acquire expertise in characteristic equations
- will get some experience on continuous integration aspects, cloud platforms and git (github/gitlab) among other tools.
Admission to the course
Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme. The course is not open for single course studies.
The course has a max capacity of 15 students. Based on experience, there is generally room for everyone who applies for admission to the course within the deadline.
Recommended previous knowledge
Bachelor’s Degree in Fysikk og astronomi (bachelor) or comparable.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with AST9110 – Numerical Modeling.
Teaching
Teaching extends over one semester.?Three hours of lectures will be given every day in an intensive two-week period at the beginning of the semester. During?the?rest of the semester?students?will be working on a major?project?assignment that will be adapted to the Master's level, where they will code,?and?receive?individual digital?supervision on a weekly basis.
During the?first two weeks of teaching,?students will also be given six compulsory?exercises that will be adapted to the Master's level. These assignments?must be approved before?students can?start working on the major?project assignment.?At the end of the semester, students are expected to give an oral presentation of major project assignments and learned course experiences. This presentation which will be part of the assessment in the course.
Examination
During the semester, the student will work on a major project assignment that will be adapted to the Master's level.?Results from the project assignment will be presented orally at the end of the semester and delivered in slides/a presentation.?The presentation of the project assignment will be the basis for a final oral exam, which counts 70% towards the final grade. The compulsory exercises and delivered presentation slides will make up?30% of the final grade, where each will count as 5%.
This course has 6 compulsory exercises that must be approved before the final exam.
Examination support material
All support material is allowed during work with the project assignment.?Only the project assignment is allowed during the oral exam.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.