PH4210 Electricity and Magnetism I ... (3-0-0) f ... 3 Cr


Intermediate study of the basic theory of electricity and magnetism, including a detailed study of electrostatic field theory and an introduction to magnetostatics.

Prerequisites: (PH2200 or PH2260), PH3110 and MA3530 Intro. Differential Equations

This course is a prerequisite for PH4211.

Text (Fall 2004):
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Typical Syllabus:

  1. Vector Calculus Review -- (2 weeks)
    1. Divergence, gradient, curl
    2. Gauss and Stokes integral relations
  2. Basic Electrostatics -- (3 weeks)
    1. Fields and Gauss' Law
    2. Potential and Poisson Equation
    3. Energy
    4. Capacitors and Conductors
  3. Advanced Electrostatics -- (6 weeks)
    1. Solution of LaPlace and Poisson Equations
      1. Method of Images
      2. Separation of Variables
      3. Multipole Expansion
    2. Polarization and Dielectrics
  4. Basic Magnetostatics -- (3 weeks)
    1. Magnetic Fields and the Biot-Savart Law
    2. Magnetic Vector Potential
  5. Exams and Review -- (1 week)
Course rationale:
A first course of two at the intermediate level in electricity and magnetism, one of the well-established core areas of Physics. It provides an in-depth study of electrostatics and magnetostatics at a higher level of mathematical skill than in the introductory course and covers material considered essential for an undergraduate physics major and closely related majors. It is a required course for all SPH and SAP majors.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 25-Aug-2004 09:12:15 EDT