PH402:  ELECTRICITY & MAGNETISM I

Spring 2008

 

 

INSTRUCTOR:                                                                            GRADERS:               Trilochan Paudel

               M. J. Graf                                                                                                   Bo Yu

               Higgins 230B; lab Higgins 110                                                                                                   

               2-4128 (office) / 8479 (lab)

               grafm@bc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS:        Monday 3 - 4pm, Wed. 9 -10am, Thursday 1- 2pm

 

TEXT:  Introduction to Electrodynamics, 3rd ed., D. J. Griffiths (Prentice-Hall, 1999)

 

CLASS:             M W F 12 pm, Higgins 310

 

GRADING:  Grades will be determined based on the following

                              homework 20 %

                              3 exams, 20 % each

                              final exam  15 %

                              class participation 5%

 

HOMEWORKS:  There will be weekly assignments; no late homeworks will be accepted.  I expect full effort on all problems -- this is the way you learn the material! I strongly encourage students to see me with any questions. Copying solutions from any source, including classmates, is not allowed (see Academic Integrity policy, below).

 

EXAMS:   Take home exams, typically consisting of a few challenging problems, will be given during the semester. The date of the exam assignment will be announced at least one week in advance.  The exams will be due at the next class meeting after the exam is assigned.  Students are encouraged to discuss the concepts with one another, but discussing the actual calculations or problems themselves is not allowed – to do so is considered cheating.

 

FINAL EXAM:  This will be a cumulative, in-class exam, which is scheduled for Thursday, May 8th at 12:30 pm.  No rescheduling allowed, except with permission of the Dean.

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION:  It is critical that you ask questions and discuss the material with your peers and me in order to facilitate your understanding.  Correspondingly, I have included a contribution to the final grade based on the student's attendance/timely arrival in class, participation in our class discussions and problems, and your discussions with me.

 

READING:

               In order to minimize lecture time and to maximize discussion time, it is expected that students will have read the material before it is covered in class!  The class calendar gives an approximate timetable of the material to be covered; you should use this as a guide to stay ahead in your readings.

CLASS RESOURCES:

               Library Internet Page - homework solutions will be available via on-line reserves.

               Class web page – syllabus, class news and announcements, class calendar, and other references at www.physics.bc.edu/fac/education/graf/PH402/402_res.htm ,

which is also link-accessible from the Physics Department homepage www.physics.bc.edu .

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

               We will be discussing more advanced principles and mathematical techniques of electromagnetic phenomena, as summarized below.

               Chapter 1:  Review of the basics of the vectors and vector algebra (review on your own).

Chapter 2:  A review of electrostatics as studied in Introductory Physics II, but developed more fully (e.g., using divergence and curl, LaplaceÕs Equation and PoissonÕs Equation).

Chapter 3:  Specialized techniques for finding the electric field due to complex charge distributions, including the method of images, separation of variables, and multipole expansion techniques. 

Chapter 4:  The electric fields in matter, including polarization of materials and the introduction of the displacement vector D.

Chapter 5:  A review of magnetostatics as studied in Intro. Physics II, but developed more fully, and with the introduction of the vector potential.

Chapter 6: Magnetic fields in matter, including types of magnetic materials (diamagnets, paramagnets, ferromagnets, and antiferromagnets) and the introduction of the Ôauxiliary field H. 

Chapter 7:  EMF and OhmÕ Law, FaradayÕs Law and induction, and MaxwellÕs Equations.

 

On the following page is a class calendar to give you a rough guideline as to how long we will spend on each topic. This is an approximate timetable, and is subject to revision as the class progresses.

 

Academic Integrity:

               Discussion of the concepts and problem-solving techniques between students, and with the instructor and graders is strongly encouraged. However, under no circumstances is it acceptable to copy and turn in solutions taken from ANY source. Please review the Boston College Standards of Academic Integrity, published in the university catalog and on the web at:

http://www.bc.edu/offices/stserv/academic/resources/policy/#integrity .

Make sure that all work you submit is in accordance with university policies. If you have any questions, please consult with me.  Violations will be reported to the Deans' Office and reviewed by the College's Committee on Academic Integrity.  This could result in failure in the course or more severe sanctions.