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Computational Physics for Aspiring Scientists

COMPASS Support Group
Apply for COMPASS 2025
WHat is COMPASS ?

A Computational Physics Training Program

COMPASS guides you through a four-part journey in computational physics, beginning with the fundamentals of calculus and Python-based N-body simulations, moving into statistical mechanics and Monte Carlo explorations of magnetism, then diving into thermodynamics and molecular modeling, and finally challenging you to synthesize your new skills in a hands-on research project. Along the way, you’ll become fluent in numeric methods—from differential equations and optimization to data analysis—so you can turn complex physical theories into real-world simulations and insights, with top projects featured in the Physics Club’s journal.

COMPASS TIMELINE

COMPASS is structured into three main sections, each lasting approximately two weeks. At the end of each section, participants collaborate on a mini-project. The program concludes with the submission of a final research paper.

1
Celestial Bodies Simulation
We’ll start with a quick refresher on derivatives and integrals, then run N-body simulations with Python’s REBOUND library. Finally, we’ll cover basic differential equations and Kepler’s laws—and use them to build our own N-body solver from scratch.
2
Ising Model
We’ll kick off with a concise review of Hamiltonian mechanics and magnetism, then cover key statistics concepts and Monte Carlo methods. Next, we’ll introduce the foundations of statistical mechanics—its purpose and applications—before diving into ferromagnet behavior. Finally, we’ll explore the Ising model and its Metropolis algorithm, including how reduced temperature factors in.
3
Thermodynamic Interactions
We’ll begin by reviewing the laws of thermodynamics, then explore kinetic molecular theory and the molecular definitions of key thermodynamic properties. Finally, we’ll bring it all together in a molecular simulation, tracking how those properties evolve over time.
4
Final Project
We’ll wrap up with a comprehensive final project—combining concepts from every section into a 5–10 page research paper. Outstanding submissions will be featured in the Physics Club’s journal.

Best Projects in COMPASS 2024

We’ll be releasing them as the deadline approaches! Stay tuned!

Team Members


Ziad Abu Shanab

Ahmed Saif-Eldeen

Mohamed Ibrahim

Ahmed Abd El-Hamid, Mohamed Abdelghani, and Ziad Abu Shanab explore the stability of the zero-angular-momentum figure-eight solution in the three-body problem when a fourth body is introduced. Their study investigates how variations in the fourth body's mass, velocity, and position affect the system's gravitational binding and long-term orbital stability, contributing to celestial mechanics.

Project Video

The study found that the figure-eight dance can keep going with a fourth object, but only if everything is just right. For example, when the newcomer is super light (with a weight of 0.001), moves at a specific speed (0.1414213), and starts from the perfect spot (0.17), the whole system stays stable for over 1000 loops. These results show how even tiny changes can make or break the pattern, offering a fresh look at the hidden rules of gravity’s pull.

STAY TUNED

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STAY TUNED

FAQ

Some frequently asked questions

Background knowledge of coding, calculus, and general physics, preferably Python.

3 months on 3 sections and a final project

The program is open to all Egyptian high school students (Grade 10-Grade 12), as long as you meet the prerequisites.

We'll stop receiving applications by July 29th 2025.

Yes, to apply what you've learned. 2-member teams will work on solving a computational physics problem, documenting their progress, methodology, and results in the form of a research paper.

  • A stable internet connection to attend regular online sessions
  • Access to a laptop/computer with any IDE (VS Code, Google Collab, etc