Physics 435
General Information
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What:
This course presents a systematic development of electrodynamics, including Maxwell's equations, electrostatics and magnetostatics, boundary value problems, fields in matter, and electromagnetic waves (moved from P436).
The second semester (P436) covers electromagnetic waves, potentials and gauge invariance, and relativistic electrodynamics.
Prerequisite: MATH 285; credit or concurrent enrollment in PHYS 325.
Note: Math 241 (vector calculus) is much more important in E&M than in mechanics.
Here is the big picture overview of the course topics, and what I hope that you'll learn. For more week-by-week detail, see the course syllabus.
Purpose:
Two major goals:
- To understand the concepts and methods of electromagnetism in detail, building on P212.
- To learn how E&M fits into the larger physics framework, expecially special relativity,
field theory, and quantum mechanics.
Don't be frightened by the phrase “field theory”. You are learning it now! Field theory includes phenomena that are more easily described by continuous distributions (“fields”) than by discrete particles. These include fluid mechanics (P326) and electromagnetism (P435-6). I hope to make the concepts sufficiently clear that the when you get to quantum mechanics, you'll be able to focus on the quantum aspects.
When and where:
| Lecture: |
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MWF |
|
10:00 - 10:50 AM |
|
144 Loomis |
|
| Discussion: |
|
Monday |
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5, 6, 7, or 8 PM (50 minutes) |
|
158 Loomis |
Books:
Required:
- Introduction to Electrodynamics (3rd or 4th ed.), Griffiths.
Unfortunately, the publisher will no longer sell the 3rd edition.
Supplementary reading:
- The Feynman Lectures on Physics (volume II), Feynman, Leighton, Sands (1970, 2005).
A lower level book, but with some sophisticated concepts and examples.
Other books: (on reserve in the Grainger library)
- Classical Electrodynamics (3rd Ed.), Jackson
The standard graduate level text.
- Classical Electricity and Magnetism, Panofsky and Phillips
Somewhat advanced, but more accessible than Jackson.
- Electricity and Magnetism, Nayfeh
Has been the text in the past, I think.
- Electricity and Magnetism, Purcell
The Berkeley "honors" text. Has good insights.
- Books that I know less about (I list the authors only)
Pollack, Reitz, Marion, Lorrain, Schwartz.
Format and grades:
- Lecture: (no grade)
Lectures serve primarily to guide your studies. I'll do some examples and discuss concepts.
I'd like it to be interactive - we'll see how it goes.
- Discussion: (10% of your grade)
You'll work in small groups (as in 21x ) on problems that
illustrate conceptual issues and calculational techniques. You might be able to
get an "A" without ever attending discussion, but you'd be living dangerously.
- Homework: (35%)
Homework is important! One learns by doing.
Weekly homework assignments will be due (in the homework box) on Monday at
4 PM.
Late homework will not be accepted without an official
(e.g., McKinley) excuse.
- Midtem exams: (30%)
Two in-class exams (15% each). Exams are open notes: printed lecture notes, discussion and HW solutions, and anything in your handwriting. No photocopies of books, etc. No electronic devices.
- Final exam: (25%)
Exams are open notes: printed lecture notes, discussion and HW solutions, and anything in your handwriting. No photocopies of books, etc. No electronic devices.
Staff:
| Office hours: |
| | Monday |
11AM - 12PM | | 315 Loomis |
| Tom |
| | |
12 - 1 PM | | 204 Loomis |
| Davide |
| | |
1 - 2 PM | | 3115 ESB |
| Michael |
| | |
2 - 3 PM | | 4139 ESB |
| Chang-Tse |
| | Friday |
11AM - 12PM | | 315 Loomis |
| Tom |
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