Phys 360-00 Electricity and Magnetism

Text: David J. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, 3rd ed. I also recommend that you get a good book of integral tables. The bookstore has several. Schaum's Outline Series has a Mathematical Handbook that I have found very useful and are relatively inexpensive.

Meeting time: MWF 9:30-10:50 in Gerstacker 10.

Office hours: I am usually here by 8:30 on MWF and here until my other class at 2:45.  I'm also usually here Tuesdays and/or Thursdays and in my office most of the time! My office is Gerstacker 108, x5249 and email: vanwormerla. I check voice mail during the work day and email regularly even when at home so if you can't find me, those are both good ways to reach me. Leave a message and way to contact you and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Homework: Homework is essential if you want to understand the material. Because I believe that so strongly, homework will count as 40% of your grade. Your homework assignments throughout the term can be found at the end of the syllabus. I prefer not to accept late homework. We will be going through material quickly and you will be lost if you get behind.

Papers: A summary of 3 journal articles from the last 10 years, somehow related to this course. Each paper will count as 5% of your total grade. The articles should be from primary sources. Some examples of primary sources are Physical Review, Science, Nature, Nuclear Physics, The Astrophysical Journal, Scientific American, etc. which have all articles reviewed by a panel of people respected in the field before they are published. Science News is NOT a primary source though as a review of other articles it can give you ideas on where to look.

Your papers should be about 2 pages in length, double-spaced. The article's title, author and citation should be given in the header. The first paragraph should give background information about the topic. The information can come from the course or from other sources, as you find necessary. The body of the paper should consist of a summary of the article and will be the main part of the paper. The final paragraph or two should contain input from you. You could talk about why this research you reported on is important or what impact it has on current research or events. You might also briefly review the article and talk about the strengths or weaknesses of the presentation and the author's arguments. You might also wish to explain why that particular topic interested you.

Exams: You will have two mid-term exams and a final exam, each counting as 15% of your grade. The final will be Wednesday April 9, 1 pm until ?  I'll bring the pizza!

Homework assignments:

ch 1 (math)  7, 10, 11, 13, 15, 19, 20, 26, 27, 31b&c, 40, 42, 43, 47, 48, 51, 53, 54, 60 [19]

ch 2 (electrostatics) 1, 3, 8, 9, 16, 17, 22, 24, 26, 27, 30, 32, 35, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47 [19]

ch 3 (electric potential) 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 28, 36, 37, 40 [12]

ch 4 (electrostatics in matter) 2, 11, 14, 15, 17, 31, 32 [7]

ch 5 (magnetostatics) 2, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 23, 25, 29, 31, 39, 46, 49 [15]