startwithwhy.

com

Facilitating programming computational

physics simulations for tablets
Francisco Esquembre, Flix J. Garca-Clemente
Universidad de Murcia, Spain

Wolfgang Christian, Mario Belloni

Davidson College, Davidson, NC

Our approach to
Computational Physics
Physics
application

CS

hard/software

C
P

Math

techniques

Taken from A Survey of Computational Physics

R. H. Landau, M. J. Pez, and C. C. Bordeianu
(Princeton University Press, 2008)

Our approach to
Computational Physics
Contributions:
Physics
application

CS

hard/software

C
P

Math

techniques

Interesting problems (Science)

Physical models

Physical laws

Equations

Our approach to
Computational Physics
Contributions:
Physics
application

CS

hard/software

C
P

Math

techniques

Mathematical models

Methods

Analytical

Numerical (algorithms)

Our approach to
Computational Physics
Contributions:
Physics
application

CS

Implementation

Programming

Visualization

GUI (Interaction)

hard/software

C
P

Math

techniques

Our approach to
Computational Physics
Contributions:
Physics
application

CS

Implementation

hard/software

C
P

Interesting problems (Science)

Physical models

Physical laws

Equations

Mathematical models

Methods

Math

techniques

Programming

Visualization

Analytical

GUI (Interaction)

Numerical (algorithms)

Our approach to
Computational Physics
Contributions:
But more often than not

Physics
application

Implementation

Programming

C
P
CS
hard/software

Visualization

GUI (Interaction)

Interesting problems (Science)

Physical models

Physical laws

Equations

Mathematical models

Methods

Math

techniques

Analytical

Numerical (algorithms)

Our approach to
Computational Physics
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

CS

Physics
application

hard/software

C
P

Math

techniques

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 bestpractices

Tailored to the modeling process

Automates CS tasks

How can EjsS help you teach

computational physics?
DESCRIPTION

Importance of documentation

HTML editor

XHTML compatible

Translation facilities

How can EjsS help you teach

computational physics?
MODEL

Simple, yet effective model

structure

Variables and algorithmscentered

Powerful ODE editor

Easy to understand by
students

Facilitates sharing

Open to the use of thirdparty libraries

How can EjsS help you teach

computational physics?
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, Zenoeffect and Error-handling

Precision comparable to Matlab solvers

How can EjsS help you teach

computational physics?
VIEW

Palette of pre-defined view element

Facilitates interactive design

Customizable properties

Bi-directional connection to model

variables

How can EjsS help you teach

computational physics?
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
DEPLOYMENT AND
COLLABORATION
sources for
simulations

eMail,
DropBox,
LMS,

Modeling tool
Reader app

Digital libraries

ready-to-run
simulations

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform
Large catalog of ready to run simulations already available
Source
+500
150

code provided

Java simulations

Javascript simulations

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform
Added model elements
for Parallel Programming

CPE 2 Session
Wednesday 16:45

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform
Added model elements
to solve PDE,

for AR and controlling

hardware,

and for
interfacing with
industrial robots

Time for a demo!

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform
Modeling tool
Reader app

Comes with extra goodies!

Digital libraries

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform
Cross-platform compatibility

(A task far from trivial, by the way)

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform

Creating electronic mini-books with simulations couldnt be easier

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

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform

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 noncommercial use.

Commercial use is allowed under reasonable conditions

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform

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).

The Easy Java(script) Simulations

platform
Modeling tool
Reader app

Digital libraries

The EjsS platform provides tools to support

an effective hands-on, project-oriented
course on computational physics!

Thank you very much

for your attention!
Facilitating programming computational
physics simulations for tablets
Francisco Esquembre, Flix J. Garca-Clemente
Universidad de Murcia, Spain

Wolfgang Christian, Mario Belloni

Davidson College, Davidson, NC