MATLAB in Physics - Symbolic Computation and Differential Equations

The fourth lecture in a series on using MATLAB in undergraduate physics courses.

MATLAB in Physics is a four lecture series in MATLAB that is offered to first year physics undergraduate students.

This lecture shows how to use MATLAB to simulate physical systems using a range of methods. Projectile motion is analysed using the Symbolic Math Toolbox, then more complicated chaotic systems are simulated using the MATLAB ODE solvers.
Some advanced programming techniques such as Object Oriented Programming (OOP) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) programming are briefly covered.

The aim of this lecture series is to introduce students to computational methods in MATLAB to solve problems arising in physics that cannot be solved analytically. No prior knowledge of MATLAB is required. Themes of data analysis, visualization, modelling and programming are explored throughout these lectures.