Physics 703 - Fall 2009
Contact Information
Learning Outcomes
Methods of Evaluation
Course Content
Course Schedule
Lecture Times: MWF 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM
Lecture Room: PSC 205
Professor: Prof. Milind V. Purohit
Office: PSC 609
Office Hours: HW help on Tue 3:30-4:20. In addition, you may knock on my
door any afternoon. [Sometimes I am in a phone meeting. Other known busy times: Mon 3-4, Fri 2-4, Fri 3-5 when there is
a faculty meeting, and mornings: Mon 9-10 AM, MWF 10-11:15.]
Phone: 777-6996
Home Page: "Milind V. Purohit's Home Page"
By the end of the term, successful students should be able to do the
following:
- Obtain the charge distribution and / or the potential for a
configuration of charges or conductors specified in one of many ways.
- Solve boundary value problems in electrostatics using the method of
images. Specific well-known problems will be considered as well.
- Solve boundary value problems in electrostatics using expansions in
terms of orthogonal functions as well as using Green functions.
- Examine the effect of charge distributions at large distances using
multipoles and dielectrics.
- Learn how to apply the Laws of Biot and Savart and of Faraday to
magnetostatic problems.
- Study the basis of electrodynamics: the Maxwell equations, the
potential
formulation, Green functions and retarded potentials.
- Understand electromagnetic radiation and its propagation.
- Understand the propagation of electromagnetic radiation in
waveguides.
Students are expected to know electrodynamics at the PHYS 504
level before they take this course. Only students who have done
well in PHYS 504 should take this course. Also, students should know
mathematical methods of physics.
Presentations designed to prepare students to give talks in the real world of
research / teaching / industry are part of this course. 10% of the total
course grade is based on these. Topics are posted in advance on the
course website.
There have been some misunderstandings regarding scope and topics of
presentations in the past. Hopefully, the following helps clarify by
emphasizing certain simple points:
- Scope: when in doubt, omit additional points. Try not to make a
comprehensive talk. 5 minutes is a very short time. Try to make only
one point and make it clearly.
- Topic: Generally speaking, it means what it says. For example:
"Experimental observation of" means an experimental observation of
(whatever is specified). It does not mean a "theoretical derivation
of". It does not mean a "gedanken experiment explaining". It does not
mean an experimental observation of something completely
different. If you do not understand a topic, it does not mean you are
free to talk about something else. It means you must come and discuss
the topic further with me (in advance, and not 5 minutes before the
lecture). Bottom line: Stick to the topic!
Students are evaluated through the semester using class participation /
presentations, homework, in-class tests as well as a final exam.
Grading:
Students turning in less than 70% of homeworks will automatically earn
an F grade. For other students, the course score will be calculated as
follows:
Homework: 30%, Test 1: 10%, Test 2: 10%, Final Exam: 40%.
The in-class discussions will be led by one student, whose presentation
will be graded. A total of 10% of the score is planned for this. The
presentations will be evaluated for clarity, content and impact: make
one point strongly in your talk!
Homework:
Homework problems will be assigned every week and will
be due at the Wednesday lecture of the next week.
Homework that is up to one week late earns 50% points; after that no
credit will be given.
Attendance: Mandatory!
The course content is derived from a variety of sources, including the
texts below.
Texts:
- Jackson, John David. "Classical Electrodynamics", John Wiley & Sons, 3rd
Edition. ISBN: 047130932X.
-
Griffiths, David. "Introduction to Electrodynamics", Prentice Hall, 3rd
Edition. ISBN: 013805326X.
[This is a highly recommended accompanying text.]
In this course we focus on basic concepts of
electrodynamics: electrostatics, multipoles, dielectrics,
magnetostatics, Maxwell Equations, electromagnetic waves and
waveguides. Thus, we cover most of Chapters 1-8 in the textbook by
Jackson.
In the next semester's continuation of this course, i.e., in PHYS 704,
we will study a relativistic formulation and also applications of
Maxwell's equations to radiation, diffraction and charged particles.
This page is maintained by
"Milind V. Purohit"