Honors ODE Project Guidelines

Please check out the ACE Lab page.

It is suggested that projects consist of 6 parts:

1. Physical Apparatus (First Question)

  • Should be OK'd by instructor
  • Get started early in semester
  • Some materials/assistance available
  • Examples: Mass on spring (Lab 3.4); Mold on bread (Lab 1.4)

    2. Data Collection

  • Science Workshop/Data Studio
  • Automation

    3. ODE Model/Analysis

  • A topic you learn from the book
  • Linearization/Numerics

    4. Comparison (of theory with experiment)

    5. Second Question

  • Goes beyond the introduction to ODE in the book.
  • Analysis of error
  • Improved model
  • Examples: Mass-spring (damping); Mold (two populations).

    6. Presentation

  • Written
  • Web page(s)
  • Class presentation

    The project is graded in four parts; each typically worth 25%:

  • Experiment (1,2)
  • Theory (3)
  • Comparison (4)
  • Presentation (6)

  • But don't forget (5); it's hard to get an "A" without it.

    These are suggestions, and not all elements must be included. It is difficult, however, to get a very good grade, if you let everything depend on, say, something like a term paper which only includes analysis (3). Strictly speaking, Written and Web presentations are required.