Physics 360

Electricity and Magnetism I

Spring 2006 -  class will meet in TH 428 at 9:35-10:50 am Tu Th

Texts:

Lea and Burke. Physics, the nature of things
Griffiths: Introduction to Electrodynamics, 3rd edition

Learning Objectives:

After successfully completing this class, you should be able to:

Use basic principles of electromagnetism to analyze physical systems, including static distributions of charge, systems of conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, and current distributions.
Discuss the principles that apply in a given system, and clearly articulate the solution method.
Use Coulomb's law and integration to find electric fields due to static charge distributions.
Apply vector mathematics and calculus  in the solution of  problems in electromagnetism in rectangular, spherical and cylindrical geometries.
Understand how to use symmetries to simplify problem solutions and to understand the results.
Solve Laplace's equation in Cartesian coordinates with appropriate boundary conditions.
Solve Laplace's equation in cylindrical or spherical coordinates in situations with sufficient symmetry.
Find the magnetic field due to symmetric current distributions.
Calculate forces acting in electromagnetic systems.
Calculate fields in dielectrics and magnetic materials.
Bring together ideas from other branches of physics, such as mechanics and thermodynamics, when necessary to understand the behavior of a system.
Communicate your ideas clearly, orally and in writing.


Physics 360 is to cover the material in the first 6 chapters of Griffiths; 460 covers the rest!   I have prepared a tentative class schedule that indicates the material to be covered each week, and the homework problems.  Please read the appropriate section of the text before class. The material will undoubtedly be somewhat mysterious the first time you see it, and you will get more from each class if you have looked at the material in advance.  The primary reference for conceptual material is Lea and Burke.  Please read the overview of E&M  (p754-763) before the semester starts.  Review as much of chapters 23-30 as you can.  To master material at the level of the Griffiths text we will need to include more advanced mathematical techniques.  Physics 385 is prerequisite to Physcs 360.  Keep your texts from that class (especially div, grad, curl and all that)- you will need to refer to them often.  For a more advanced treatment, you may want to look at Lea: Mathematics for physicists. Read Chapter 1 of Griffiths before the first class.

Assigned problems are listed on the schedule. Problem numbers in bold are extra credit for any undergraduates who would like to try them, but are required for graduate students.  Doing problems is the essence of learning physics. I shall collect and grade these problems every week. Do not get behind! The farther behind you get, the harder it is to catch up. Your grade for the class will be heavily based on these problem grades, although a good deal of credit will be given for a good attempt. (For what "good" means, check here.) You should include a clear and concise discussion of relevant physical principles and mathematical techniques in your solutions. Check this list for things you should NOT say in your solutions!

Quizzes may occur in any class without warning. Your quiz scores contribute 5% of your total grade. The one lowest quiz score will be dropped. All quizzes will be closed-book.

There will be an in class midterm, and a take-home final, both open-book.  Problems are due at the beginning of the class period on the day indicated. Assignments turned in late will be accepted only under exceptional circumstances.  While I encourage you to discuss the problems during the semester in study groups, please be sure that the work you turn in is your own.  Exams may not be discussed with anyone except me.  For the midterm, you may bring to class one page of notes (8x11, one side only) and one textbook of your choice.

Please note that some of the assignments may  involve a computer calculation. Computers may also be (and should be) used to construct plots and diagrams in other assignments.  However, computer programs such as Mathematica may not be used to do your algebra for you.

Grades will be assigned on the following basis:
 
Homework problems:  Midterm:  Final: Quizzes
30%  30%  35% 5%

Please feel free to discuss all aspects of the class with me at any time. Discuss the homework problems among yourselves as well as with me (exams should not be discussed, however). Try to attend published office hours, but also feel free to knock on my door whenever I am there (I'll tell you if I am busy!). It's usually a good idea to make an appointment.

Special note to graduate students taking 360  The problems marked in bold are for you alone.  They are a bit harder, and will require careful thought and/or careful and accurate computation.  Have fun!


Physics 360 
Course Outline
 Spring 2006
Date  Griffiths Reference LB reference Topic
(click on links for lecture notes) 		Problems Due date
Tu Jan 31st Ch 1 Ch 2 sec 1
 Overview of E&M, Chapters 23 and 24
 Review of basics, E as a vector field
Problem solving; Coulomb's Law
Th Feb 2
 Ch 1, Ch 2 sec 1
 Ch 1; p116-124, p248-256,  p229-30,  p299-300
23.3, 24.2, 24.5
 Problem solving; Coulomb's Law
 LB p 23.76, 24.90
G p1.2 (pg4), 1.12 (pg 15)
Feb 7
Tu Feb 7
 Ch 1, Ch2 sec2
 23.4, 24.1,2,3 Coulomb's law and Gauss' law
Th Feb 9 Ch 1; Ch 2 sec 3
 Ch 25
 Potential
 LB 24.49
 G1.54, 1.58
 Feb 14
Tu Feb 14
 Ch 1; Ch 2 sec 3 Ch 25
 Potential, delta function
Th Feb 16 Ch 1; Ch 2 sec 4
Ch 25
 Energy G1.47, 2.20, 2.21, 2.25
 LB p25.97
 Feb 21
Tu Feb 21 Ch 1; Ch 2 sec 5
 Ch 25
 Conductors, boundary conditions

Th Feb 23 Ch 2 sec 5
 Ch 27
 More on conductors, capacitors
 LB 25.82
G 2.32, 2.34, 2.48
 Feb 28
Tu Feb 28
 Ch 1; Ch 3 sec 1
Laplace's equation,
Example of numerical solution
Th Mar 2 Ch 3 sec 2
method of images
 LB 25.71, 27.73, 27.75
G3.2, 3.3 (cylindrical only)
 Mar 7
Tu Mar 7
 Ch 3 sec 3
Separation of variables
Th Mar 9
 Ch 3 sec 3
Separation of variables - 3d
 G3.8, 3.10, 3.13
 Mar 14
Tu Mar 14 Ch 3 sec 3
Separation of variables - spherical coordinates
Th Mar 16 Ch 3 sec 3
Separation of variables - spherical coordinates G 3.18. 3.34
 Mar 21
Tu Mar 21
 Ch 3 sec 3, 4
 Ch 24  sec 5
Separation of variables - plane polar coordinates. Multipole expansion
Th Mar 23
 Ch 3 sec 4
Multipoles - more
 G3.21(a), (b), 3.24 Mar 28
Tu Mar 28 Ch 4 sec 1, 2
 Ch 24  sec 5 , Ch 27
 Fields in dielectrics
Th Mar 30
 Ch 1-3
 Ch 23-25
 Midterm exam G3.33, 3.45(a),(b)&(c). 3.49
 Apr 11
Apr 3-7
SPRING BREAK
Tu Apr 11
 Ch 4 sec 2, 3
 Ch 27
 Polarization and electric displacement

Th Apr 13 Ch 4 sec 4
Boundary value problems with dielectrics
 G4.18, 4.20 LB p27.47 Apr 18
Tu Apr 18 Ch 4 sec 4
Energy and Force
Th Apr 20 Ch 5 sec 1
 Ch26 sec 2, Ch 28 sec 1, Ch29
 Magnetic force, current
 G4.5, 4.28, 4.29,4.36
 Apr 25
Tu Apr 25 Ch 5 sec 2,3
 Ch 28
 Magnetic fields- Biot-Savart Law, Ampere's Law
Th Apr 27 Ch 5  sec 3
Differential equations for B
 LB29.47, G5.7, 5.11, 6.2 (Show the result for a current loop of arbitrary shape.)
 May 2
Tu May 2
 Ch 5 sec 3, 4
Maxwell's equations, vector potential
Th May 4

Advising day- no class G5.16, 5.45, 5.46 May 9
Tu May 9
 Ch 5 sec 4
vector potential, scalar potential, boundary conditions.
Th May 11
 Ch 6 sec 1, 2
 Ch 29 sec 4, Ch 30
 Magnetic materials
 G5.22, 5.41, 5.56 May 16
Tu May 16 Ch 6 sec2,3
B and H
Th May 18 Ch 6 sec 3,4
Ferromagnetism, magnetic shielding
 G6.1, 6.12, ,6.26
 May 18
Th May 18 Ch 1-6
 Ch 23-30
  Review.  Final exam handed out in class
Th May 25
11:00 am Take-home final examination due
Th May 25
 10:45
 Final Examination. (Official date)

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