Dear Physics computing reps, OK, this is an act of some desperation because this portion of the course starts on Monday and we really could do with at least one more mini-project idea. If we don't have it it is not the end of the world as they have a choice of two already but ... So, as you know, we have changed the first year computing course so that the students treat computers as tools. All the students will, by the end of today, have been trained in the basics of python, SciPy, NumPy and matplotlib and as of next week will start on mini projects. In these mini projects they have 4 three hour sessions (and can be expected to do a little outside) where they have to investigate a physics "situation" using the new tools that they have. So what I am looking for is a physical "problem" that: - cannot be (or is difficult) to solve analytically. - can be quantifiably modelled in 12 hours (+plus a little extra outside) - uses some combination (say two or more) of linear algebra (large simultaneous equations?), numerical integration (perhaps in more than one dimension), numerical equation solving (potentially of sets of non-linear equations), fits to data andd random numbers. - is not going to disadvantage some groups because they cover the work in the first year. - Is not particle physics... Please ask around and see what ideas you can come up with this morning (or by say 1:30 when my I come out of a meeting) as I need to write it up this afternoon. If I don't get any ideas they will get another particle physics example so be warned ;-) Best, david