PHYS 436 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Course Description

Physics 435 and 436 presents a systematic development of electrodynamics, including Maxwell's equations, electrostatics and magnetostatics, boundary value problems, fields in matter, and electromagnetic waves. The second semester (PHYS 436) covers electromagnetic waves, conservation laws, potentials and gauge invariance, radiation, and relativistic electrodynamics.

Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours / 3 graduate hours

Prerequisite: PHYS 435
Note: Math 241 (vector calculus) is much more important in E&M than in mechanics.

Class Scheduling Requirement: Register for the lecture and one of the discussion sections (D0/D1/D2).

Lectures

Lectures take place from 9-9:50 am on MWF in 144 Loomis.

Homework

One homework set will be assigned each week. It will be posted on Wednesday on the course syllabus and will be due on the subsequent Wednesday. Homework will be handed in, graded, and returned using Gradescope.

Late homework: A 25% penalty will be charged for late homework handed in five days following the deadline (following Monday). After that time, no credit will be given.

Discussions

Discussion sections take place on Tuesday evenings in the Transportation Building and the Campus Instructional Facility. The purpose of the discussion is not just to make you work another problem, but to get you in the habit of discussing physics with other people, which in practice is an important part of how science gets done. The expectation is that you will work the problem during your discussion section, and not before or afterward. Grading is pass-fail and based on both how well you did on the problem and whether you participated. The first discussion meets the second week of class, Tuesday, September 1st.

Exams

There will be two in-class hour exams as indicated on the course syllabus. You will be provided with the following equation sheet. Notes or electronic devices of any sort are not permitted. Calculators will be neither allowed nor needed.

Excused Absences

There may be instances where you are not able to attend discussion or an exam. Absences consistent with the UIUC Student Code may be requested via the excused absences link on my.physics and must be approved by the Physics Undergraduate Office.