Computational physics

Computational Physics is a sub-field of scientific computing which focuses on the creation and use of computer models to solve physical problems. It generally uses numerical methods to simulate physics-based systems and make predictions about their behaviour. Computational Physics is used to investigate a vast array of topics from the subatomic to the astronomical.

The first applications of Computational Physics began in the 1940s when World War II motivated the development of numerical modeling techniques. By the 1950s, the explosion in the computing industry allowed scientists to develop full length Computational Physics programs to simulate complex physical phenomena.

In the decades since, advances in computing have allowed Computational Physics to become a major player in the scientific community. Research using computational models has the advantage of being far less expensive and time consuming than traditional experimentation for solving difficult physical equations. Complex physical phenomena, such as shock fronts or turbulence, can now be studied at detailed scales due to the proliferation of computational resources.

Throughout the field of Computational Physics, a wide variety of numerical modeling techniques have been developed including molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo methods, finite element methods, finite difference methods and spectral methods. All of these involve the use of computers to solve complex mathematical equations that describe the physics of the problem at hand.

As computing becomes more powerful and algorithms become quicker and more efficient, researchers have access to ever-increasing accuracy and power. Computational Physics is, therefore, becoming more and more popular as a scientific tool. Its applications have helped us further understand our physical universe, from the eerie atmosphere of the Earth’s core to the rapid-fire movement of molecules in a champagne glass.