Course Description
Electromagnetism provides a unified theoretical description of electric and magnetic forces, which determine all interactions between charged objects. Much of the material world consists of charged particles and the combination of the range and strength of electric and magnetic forces means that these are the dominant interactions which govern our everyday experience. Maxwell's unified description of electric and magnetic forces and the link that he established between electromagnetic waves and light were the crowning glory of 19th century physics. Much of our understanding of the physical world and our abilities for manipulating it stem from the body of work which he synthesized
Physics 311 offers detailed coverage of the key concepts and techniques of classical electromagnetism, leading up to Maxwell's equations and using the full tools of vector algebra and calculus. One goal of this course is to expose you to the fundamental concepts and mathematical techniques of this theory, which plays an important role in theoretical discussions in most subfields of physics. But electromagnetism is more than a mere theoretical endeavor; it enters into the majority of experiments in the physical sciences. The second goal of this course is to equip you with the theory which is crucial for understanding and managing experimental and applied aspects of the physical sciences.
Course Number: PHYS 311
Instructor: Prof. David Collins, Physics
Contact Information:
- Wubben 228B
- Telephone: 248-1787
- Email: [email protected]
Class Times: TTh 9:30am - 10:45am
Classroom: Wubben/Science 218
First Class Meeting: Tuesday 23 August 2010
Prerequisites: PHYS 132, MATH 260
Text:
D. J. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, Prentice Hall (1999).
First Day Handout: Pdf Format
Outline: Pdf Format
Syllabus
The following is subject to change.
- Mathematical tools: vector algebra, calculus in three dimensions.
- Electrostatics, Coulomb's law, Gauss' law.
- Work and energy in electrostatics, electric potential, Poisson's equation, Laplace's equation.
- Multipoles.
- Magnetic fields and forces, Biot-Savart law, Ampere's law, magnetic vector potential.
- Induction, Faraday's law.
- Maxwell's equations.
- Electric fields in matter, polarization, dielectrics.
- Magnetic fields in matter.
Homework Assignments
| Homework 1 | Due: 29 Aug 2011 (and revolving) | |
| Homework 2 | Due: 31 Aug 2011 (and revolving) | |
| Homework 3 | Due: 5 Sept 2011 (and revolving) | |
| Homework 4 | Due: 7 Sept 2011 (and revolving) | |
| Homework 5 | Due: 12 Sept 2011 (and revolving) | |
| Homework 6 | Due: 19 Sept 2011 | |
| Homework 7 | Due: 26 Sept 2011 | |
| Homework 8 | Due: 3 Oct 2011 | |
| Homework 9 | Due: 11 Oct 2011 | |
| Homework 10 | Due: 25 Oct 2011 | |
| Homework 11 | Due: 1 Nov 2011 | |
| Homework 12 | Due: 8 Nov 2011 | |
| Homework 13 | Due: 14 Nov 2011 | |
| Homework 14 | Due: 22 Nov 2011 | |
| Homework 15 | Due: 29 Nov 2011 | |
| Homework 16 | Due: 8 Dec 2011 |
Homework Solutions
Homework solutions will be posted at H:\DOWNLOAD\dacollin\2011Fall\Phys311\homework.
Exams
There will be two hour long exams during class on the following dates: Tuesday 4 October and Tuesday 15 November. There will be a comprehensive final exam on Wednesday 15 December.
Exams from previous years.
| Semester | Exam | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2009 | Class exam 1 | ||
| Fall 2009 | Exam 1: Solutions | ||
| Fall 2009 | Class exam 2 | ||
| Fall 2009 | Exam 2: Solutions | ||
| Fall 2009 | Final exam | ||
| Fall 2009 | Final exam: Solutions | ||
| Fall 2010 | Class exam 1 | ||
| Fall 2010 | Exam 1: Solutions | ||
| Fall 2010 | Class exam 2 | ||
| Fall 2010 | Exam 2: Solutions | ||
| Fall 2010 | Final exam | ||
| Fall 2010 | Final exam: Solutions |
Exams from 2010.
| Semester | Exam | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2011 | Class exam 1 | ||
| Fall 2011 | Exam 1: Solutions | ||
| Fall 2011 | Class exam 2 | ||
| Fall 2011 | Exam 2: Solutions |
Supplementary Reading
There are many additional texts which are potentially suitable for this course. The following is a selection.
- General Texts
R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton and M. Sands, Lectures on Physics, Vol II, Addison-Wesley (1965).
Pitched somewhere between a sophomore and junior level text, this is still a classic. Feynman was reknowned for his unique approaches at explaining physics.
P. Lorrain, D. R. Corson and F. Lorrain, Fundamentals of Electromagnetic Phenomena, Freeman (2000).
Another standard undergraduate level text.
R. K. Wangsness, Electromagnetic Fields, Wiley (1986).
Similar to other undergraduate electromagnetism texts but includes a chapter on waveguides.
L. Eyges, The Classical Electromagnetic Field, Dover (1972).
More of an introductory graduate level text but sections are still accessible to an undergraduate audience. This is generally an excellent text.
J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, John Wiley (1998).
The default graduate level text, probably more as a result of its scope than its explanatory qualities. Encyclopedic but frequently confusing coverage of everything to do with electromagnetism. Tortuous problems.
Links and Animations
- Animations
- Math and Physics Simulations. A great collection of excellent simulations from Paul Falstad.
- Quadrupole ion trap potential. From Chris Monroe's group, Univ of Maryland.
