(Ebook) Programming and Scientific Computing in Python by J.M. Hoekstra, J. Ellerbroek

(Ebook) Programming and Scientific Computing in Python by J.M. Hoekstra, J. Ellerbroek

The first version of this reader was developed for, and during the pilot of, the Programming course inthe first year of the BSc program Aerospace Engineering at the Delft University of Technology in 2012.Originally it was written for Python 2 and then converted to Python 3.The goal of the Python programming course is to enable the student to:• write a program for scientific computing• develop models• analyse behaviour of the models, for instance using plots• visualise models by animating graphicsThe course assumes some mathematical skills, but no programming experience whatsoever.This document is provided as a reference for the elaboration of the assignments. The reader is encouraged to read through the relevant chapters applicable to a particular problem. For later reference,many tables, as well as some appendices with quick reference guides, have been included. Theseencompass the most often used functions and methods. For a complete overview, there is the excellent documentation as provided with Python in the IDLE Help menu, as well as the downloadable andon-line documentation for the Python modules NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib and Pygame.Also, the set-up of the present course is to show the appeal of programming. Having this powerful toolat hand allows the reader to use the computer as a ‘mathematical slave’. And by making models, onebasically has the universe in a sandbox at one’s disposal: Any complex problem can be programmedand displayed, from molecular behaviour to the motion in a complex gravity field in space.An important ingredient at the beginning of the course is the ability to solve mathematical puzzles andnumerical problems. Also the very easy to use graphics module Pygame module has been included inthis reader. This allows, next to the simulation of a physical problem, a real-time visualization and somecontrol (mouse and keyboard) for the user, which also adds some fun for the beginning and strugglingprogrammer in the form of visual feedback.Next to the mathematical puzzles, challenges (like Project Euler and the Python challenge) and simulations and games, there is a programming contest included in the last module of the course for whichthere is a prize for the winners. Often students surprise me with their skills and creativity in such acontest by submitting impressive simulations and games.Also check out the accompanying videos: Search for “AE1205” on Youtube.Many thanks to the students and teaching assistants, whose questions, input and feedback formed thefoundation for this reader.