A cluster of 486/33 IBM-compatible PCs ia being used to assist Rose-Hulman physics and applied optics (PH/AO) faculty in building computational physics into all areas of the curriculum.Every Rose-Hulman freshman is now exposed to the Mathematica symbolic mathematics package for a full year. The cluster of PCs enables PH/AO faculty to first get familiar with Mathematica, and then develop regular Mathematica assignments at all course levels in the undergraduate curriculum, to reinforce and build up students' skills. These often use the notebook feature, so students can modify a template or shell.In upper level PH/AO courses, a different set of simulations and assignments are based on materials in the CUPS (Comprehensive Undergraduate Physics Software) project (available in beta version, starting in September, 1992). This requires much less effort from faculty, because written CUPS resource materials always suggest a number of ways in which students can explore the physics by modifying existing source programs. CUPS simulations across the upper-level physics courses should generate a lot of interest in both students and faculty. The cluster provides an accessible high-speed computing resource to run and use CUPS.In addition, the machines support extensive chaos simulations, and experimental data acquisition for a course being offered on chaos in physical systems.An extracurricular software activity for PH/AO majors will be initiated, using the cluster as the main resource. This will work in parallel with other departmental efforts to generate software demonstrations to enhance classroom teaching. It should also increase student interest in physics or applied optics as a major.
