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Physics at Hamilton |
This course aims to provide a solid grounding in the ideas of classical electromagnetism and the mathematics that is needed to apply those ideas. Electromagnetism is one of the most beautiful theoretical constructs in all of physics. It explains all of the phenomena that result from the interactions of charged particles and the fields that they create with only 5 laws; a success comparable to the beauty of classical mechanics and Newton's three laws of motion.
We shall work from 2 texts during the course. The primary text is
Electromagnetism, 2nd Edition
I.S Grant and W. R. Phillips
John Wiley and Sons
We shall also use
Advanced Mathematics
Murray R. Spiegel
Schaum's Outline Series
for help with the mathematical portion of the course.
In Electromagnetism I hope we shall use the unstarred material from chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, and 13.
In Advanced Mathematics we shall use most of chapters 5, 6, and 12.
A more detailed schedule can be found here and an overview of the material to be covered is found here. As time passes, summaries of the week's materials will be found in the the quiz facts sections.
On occasion throughout the course we will make use of computer programs to help us understand the behaviors of fields and charges. Information about these may be found here.
We shall have weekly homework assignments due
at the start of class on Friday of each week
EXCEPT in weeks when we have an exam. Most of the problems will be taken from
the text.
Since there are hints and short answers to all the book problems
in the back of the book, I shall be giving credit for the working that is
shown and not for correct answers. Homeworks are about process
not product.
We shall have weekly short quizzes in the last 15 minutes of each Friday class. These will be closed-book quizzes that will feature short questions emphasizing your mastery of basic facts.
We shall have three 3-hour Exams. Since we don't have a lab period to use for the exams, we shall have to figure out the best way to run the mid terms. The final will be at the assigned time during finals week, Wednesday 9-12. All the examswill be two part exams. The first part will consist of short, quiz-type questions that will emphasis basic knowledge of the material. This part will be closed book. The second part will have a few longer problems that will emphasise your ability to apply the material to new situations. This part will be open book.
| About twelve Homeworks of which I keep only the 10 highest grades |
10 @ 5% |
50% |
| About twelve Quizzes, keeping the 10 highest |
10 @ 2% |
20% |
| Three 3-hour exams |
3 @ 10% |
30% |
| Total |
100% |
|
Physics at Hamilton |