PH431/531 - CAPSTONES IN PHYSICS: ELECTROMAGENTISM

Fall 2012

Course Information

The 3-unit Capstone course in Electromagnetism aims to give an overview of the classical theory of electromagnetic fields and insight into its main applications. You are expected to be familiar with the material covered in PH 320 and PH 422. The general philosophy is to ask as many questions as possible, and be an active participant in classes; it's more fun for all of us that way! I expect you to have read the assigned material before class. I do not intend to repeat detailed derivations in the text, but you are still required to understand them. Read widely - other texts present the same material in a different way and also give other examples.

Lecture times: MWF 10:00 - 10:50 in WNGR 304

• Homework will be due each Monday or as listed on the class schedule.
• Homework should be turned in before class on the day it is due. The solutions will be posted promptly, after which homework is considered late. If your homework is late, I may grade it if you have an acceptable excuse, I may scale it as exp(-N) where N is the number of days past due.
• The ground rules for the homework are:
  • 1. We strongly encourage students to work with each other, more advanced students, the TA, and the professor, when they get stuck on assignments. However, each student is expected to turn in independent assignments that show evidence of individual thought.
  • 2. Homework solutions from previous years are strictly off-limits. You are on your honor not to use them. Allow faculty to use their time interacting with you, rather than continually thinking up new assignments. Besides, if you don't do the work yourself, it will show up very clearly on exams.
  • 3. Sources must be appropriately documented. If you find a homework problem worked out somewhere (other than homework solutions from previous years), you may certainly use that resource, just make sure you reference it properly. If someone else helps you solve a problem, reference that too. In a research paper, the appropriate reference would be: Jane Doe, (private communication).

PH431: Final exam: 35%. Midterm exam 25%. Homework 25%. Project 15%
PH531: Final exam: 35%. Midterm exam 25%. Homework 25%. Project 15%
FINAL: Monday, December 3, 12:00 pm, Weniger 304

Graduate students registered for PH 531 will be assigned a more advanced project, and will be expected to demonstrate full mastery of a larger proportion of the required achievements than undergraduates registered for PH 431.

• Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, 3rd ed., Prentice-Hall, 1999. ISBN 0-13-805326-X

Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Disability Access Services (DAS). Students with accommodations approved through DAS are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through DAS should contact DAS immediately at 737-4098.

Last Update: 9/20/12

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© David McIntyre, Department of Physics, Oregon State University, 2012.