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 2:00pm - 3:15pm
Classroom: Wubben 366
First Class Meeting: Tuesday 19 August 2014
Prerequisites: PHYS 132/132L, MATH 235 or MATH 260
Texts: D. J. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics}, 4th ed, Prentice Hall(2013).
Syllabus: 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: 21 Aug 2014 |
| Homework 2 | Due: 26 Aug 2014 |
| Homework 3 | Due: 28 Aug 2014 |
| Homework 4 | Due: 2 Sept 2014 |
| Homework 5 | Due: 4 Sept 2014 |
| Homework 6 | Due: 9 Sept 2014 |
| Homework 7 | Due: 11 Sept 2014 |
| Homework 8 | Due: 16 Sept 2014 |
| Homework 9 | Due: 23 Sept 2014 |
| Homework 10 | Due: 25 Sept 2014 |
| Homework 11 | Due: 30 Oct 2014 |
| Homework 12 | Due: 9 Oct 2014 |
| Homework 13 | Due: 14 Oct 2014 |
| Homework 14 | Due: 16 Oct 2014 |
| Homework 15 | Due: 21 Oct 2014 |
| Homework 16 | Due: 23 Oct 2014 |
| Homework 17 | Due: 28 Oct 2014 |
| Homework 18 | Due: 30 Oct 2014 |
| Homework 19 | Due: 4 Nov 2014 |
| Homework 20 | Due: 6 Nov 2014 |
| Homework 21 | Due: 11 Nov 2014 |
| Homework 22 | Due: 18 Nov 2014 |
| Homework 23 | Due: 20 Nov 2014 |
| Homework 24 | Due: 2 Dec 2014 |
| Homework 25 | Due: 4 Dec 2014 |
Homework Solutions
Homework solutions are posted on the K drive. You can access these from any computer connected to the CMU network. The directory depends on your section number but can be found under K: -> PHYS311 -> 00X-YYYYY -> SHARE -> homework.
Exams
There will be two hour long exams during class on the following dates: Thursday 2 October 2014 and Tuesday 11 November 2014. There will be a comprehensive final exam on Tuesday 9 Dec 2014.
Exams and solutions from past semesters.
| Fall 2010 |
|---|
| 2010 Class exam 1 |
| 2010 Class exam 1: Solutions |
| 2010 Class exam 2 |
| 2010 Class exam 2: Solutions |
| 2010 Final exam |
| 2010 Final exam: Solutions |
| Fall 2011 |
|---|
| 2011 Class exam 1 |
| 2011 Class exam 1: Solutions |
| 2011 Class exam 2 |
| 2011 Class exam 2: Solutions |
| 2011 Final exam |
| 2011 Final exam: Solutions |
Exams and solutions from the current semester.
These will be entered after the each exam has been graded.
| Fall 2014 |
|---|
| 2014 Class exam 1 |
| 2014 Class exam 1: Solutions |
| 2014 Class exam 2 |
| 2014 Class exam 2: Solutions |
Supplementary Reading
There are many additional texts which are potentially suitable for this course. The following is a selection.
- Electromagentism
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
- References
- Physlink Reference information and data, including decimal system notation, physical constants, math constants, astro-physical constants, etc,....
- Eric Weinstein's World of Physics Encyclopedia of Physics maintained by Wolfram Research. Entries at a variety of technical levels.
- Science and Engineering Encyclopedia: Physics Encyclopedia of Physics with a somewhat cumbersome interface. Includes conversion calculators.
- Periodic Table of Elements WebElements site.
- NIST Databases Administered by the National Institute for Standards and Technology. The final word in physical data. Intended for professionals.
- Animations
- Math and Physics Simulations. A great collection of excellent simulations from Paul Falstad.
- Activ Physics Large collection provided by Addisson Wesley.
- PhET University of Colorado PhET simulations.
- PSU Schuylkill Animations Provided by Michael Gallis, Penn State University Schuylkill.
- Electrostatics
- Electric Field Hockey. PhET simulation from the University of Colorado.
- Charges and Fields. PhET simulation from the University of Colorado.
- Electrostatics applet. Applet from Paul Falstad.
- Trapped Ions for Quantum Information Processing. From the University of Innsbruck.
- Trapped Ion Quantum Information. From Chris Monroe's group, University of Maryland.
- Magnetic Fields
- Magnets and Electromagnets. PhET simulation from the University of Colorado.
- Charged Particles in Magnetic Fields. From the Penn State University, Schuylkill.