Physics 342 Electricity and Magnetism

Course Outline and Format
Dr. Tatiana Allen     347 Grote Hall      Tel 423-425-4520
e-mail: Tatiana-Allen@utc.edu,    Internet: www.utc.edu/Tatiana-Allen

 

Fall 2003 schedule
Lecture:  MW 1:00 - 2:15, Grote 319
Recitation/Lab: M 11:00 - 12:15


Catalog Description
342 Electricity and Magnetism (4)

Basic lasws of electromagnetism, electric and magnetic properties of materials, Maxwell’s equations, boundary value problems, electromagnetic waves.  Spring semester.  Lecture 3 hours, recitation 2 hours.  Prerequisite: Physics 341; Mathematics 245, 255; or approval of the instructor.

Course Objectives
This course provides a more extensive, deeper background in the area of classical electromagnetics.  In particular, we want the student to gain familiarity and facility with the powerful mathematical tools used in concept development and in solving intermediate level problems.  To this end we emphasize the use of differential and integral calculus in statics problems, Maxwell’s equations in free space and in materials, complex numbers and functions in circuitry applications, and series solutions to Laplace’s/Poisson’s equations in boundary value problems.  The co-requisite recitation class provides the students with periods of supervised practice, working together and individually.  Most importantly, we want the student to develop an appreciation for how a small handful of natural laws and concepts can bring unity and coherence to a vast range of physical phenomena.

Text:

The required text is Classical Electromagnetism by Robert H. Good, Orlando, Saunders College Publishing, c.1999.  Chapters 2-6 cover (idealized) electrostatic and magnetostatic fields, while chapters 7-10 deal with charge and current distributions actually found in matter. Boundary value problems are covered in chapter 12, circuitry in chapter 13, and electromagnetic waves in chapters 14-16.  Relativity in electromagnetism closes the text in chapter 18.  We shall attempt to cover the first half of the text (static electric and magnetic fields) very thoroughly, and cover the main points in most of the other chapters just mentioned.  I have found Good's style to be very “reader-friendly,” and I hope that you will, too!  You will also need to have (purchase) a math handbook: I suggest the CRC Standard Math Tables.

The following texts, which are available at the UTC Lupton Library, may help you in understanding concepts and problems by providing different viewpoints (all of these texts are roughly the same level as our required text):


Introduction to Electrodynamics, by David J. Griffiths

Field and Wave Electromagnetics, 2nd ed., by David K. Cheng.

Electromagnetic Fields and Waves, by P. Lorrain, D.P.Corson, and F. Lorrain.

I encourage you to read deeply (i.e., not just from the required text), to take notes in the class, to ask questions of yourself as well as of me, and to allow yourself enough time to really think about the ideas which are discussed in class and in the text. I expect that you will find this course to be challenging; I hope that you will also find it fascinating, and ultimately gain from it a heightened respect for both the curiosity and the ingenuity of humankind.


Attendance Attendance in class and recitation is required; more than 3 unexcused absences or late arrivals during the semester will result in a  10% decrease in the overall course grade, with an additional 10% reduction with every 2 additional absences. Attendance will be checked and homework collected regularly. Attendance at all tests and quizzes is required. If you miss a test or a quiz, you will get zero for it. I may make exceptions if I am convinced that you were ill, had a death in the family, or were involved in a similar emergency. Students are responsible for all information that is given in class including the material covered, information concerning the execution of the class and the possible changes of schedule and policies. 

Grades: the tentative grading plan will be as follows:
 
tests 2 @ 20% 40%
quizzes based on recitation work and homework 30%
class notes 10%
final exam 20%
Total 100%

The grading scale is: A= 90 -100; B= 80 - 89; C= 70 - 79; D= 60 - 69; F= less than 60

The schedule and the dates of tests will be announced in class.

 Class Notes

Taking detailed notes in class and taking notes when reading the book allows a student to learn material better.

I expect you to write al least 3 pages (both sides) for each lecture. All the example problems done in class have to be written in your notes in the format given in class. There will also be reading assignments, when you will need to read the book and take notes. If you have missed a lecture, you will still be responsible for the notes for this lecture and all the example problems done in class.

Please take your notes on standard paper and assemble them carefully in a three ring binder. The class/reading notes will be collected after every test. 10 % of the course grade is set aside for the notes.

You should work on your  homework after every class, and assemble the homework problems together with your lecture notes. While doing homework,  you may  consult with other students, but you must not copy their work! Plagiarism is an offense which will be reported to the honor court, and may result in failure and/or expulsion from the course.

Accommodation statement
If you are a student with a disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) and think that you might need special assistance or a special accommodations in this class or any other class, call the Office for Students with Disabilities/College Access Program at 425-4006 or come by the office - 110 Frist Hall.

 Technology/e-mail
 To enhancestudent services, the University will use your UTC email address (firstname-lastname@utc.edu) for communications. (See http://onenet.utc.edu for your exact address.) Please check your UTC email on a regular basis. If you have problems with accessing your email account, contact the Help Desk at 423/425-2678.

You can forward all of your UTC e-mail to any e-mail address of your choice. To do this you need to:
1. Go to http://onenet.utc.edu and login using your UTCID and password.
2. Log in to My Mail
3. Go to My Mail Options. Located in the top center of the window.
4. In the Options select Mailbox Management.
5. In the middle of the window look for the Forwarding section.
* Select Yes to Forward all new messages
* Select No to Keep Copy
* Enter any valid e-mail address in the Forward to: box
6. Select Save and Close.
 

Last update August 15, 2003