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SYLLABUS SPRING 2017
Phys 350   Intermediate Electromagnetism
Section 01
4 credit hours

Instructor: Dr. J.C. Daly Office: Henkles 2059
Tel: 401-742-5759(cell)
Email: jcdaly@avemaria.edu   (email read often)
Lectures: MWF 8:15-9:20Room: ACAD 2060
Text: David J. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 978-81-203-4776-2

Office Hours: MWF 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Other times by appointment (Send email)

Prerequisite: PHYS 223

For the latest information go to the course website http://jcdaly.com/phys350/index.html

Course Description and Objectives:
Topics include: Maxwell’s equations in differential form, electrodynamics, electromagnetic waves, and special relativity.
The objective of this course is to understand the basic theories describing electric and magnetic phenomena and how they also describe propagating waves such as light and radio. In addition you will see how this led Einstein to one of the two postulates of special relativity.

Course Outcomes: After taking this course you will be able to;

Assessment and Evaluation:
Your final grade will be determined by your performance on exams (50%), the final (30%) and homework (20%). We will have 6 exams. The lowest will be dropped. Each exam is worth 10%.
The conversion to letter grades will be approximately of the form:

over 90 —> A     80 - 90 —> B     70 - 80 —> C     50 - 60 —> D     below 50 —> F    
subject to discretionary adjustments.
It is possible (and highly desirable) that everyone in the class will be rewarded an "A".
Please note: NOT writing the final will result in an automatic "F".

Exams:   Each exam will consist of questions similar to homework. In solving a problem, the steps that lead to your answer must be shown to receive proper credit. Without intermediate steps, an otherwise correct answer may receive no credit. You may bring a reference sheet of your own devising (hand written) to the exams and final. There are no makeup exams. (Difficult situations may allow a missed exam to be dropped in the computing of your final grade).

Homework and Solutions:   Homework problems will be assigned and solutions will be posted on the course website. Your classmates or professors may assist you in mastering these exercises. Mutual assistance is to everyone's advantage. Late homework is marked down 20%.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

No. Topic Due   Homework
(about 4 -5 problems each week)
1. Vector Algebra 1/16 1.3, 1.4, 1.11, 1.12
2. Vector Calculus     1/23 Exam 1  1/25
3. The Electric Field 1/30
4. Work and Energy in Electrostatics     2/6 Exam 2   2/8
5. Laplace's Equation 2/13
6. Electric Fields in Matter 2/20 Exam 3   2/22
7. Magnetostatics 2/27
Spring Break 3/5 - 3/13
8. Curl of B 3/23 Exam 4   3/15
9. Magnetic Fields in Matter 3/20
10. Electrodynamics 3/27 Exam 5   3/29
11. Maxwell's Equations 4/3  
  Easter Break 4/13-4/17  
12. Electromagnetic Waves 4/19 Exam 6   4/19
13. Special Relativity 4/24  

GRADES:
Exams (best 5 of 6)   50%  Exams are based on homework.
FINAL 30%  The final will assess course outcomes.
Homework 20%  Late homework is marked down 20%.

We are happy to accommodate students with disabilities.

Everyone's behavior is expected to exemplary and, at a minimum, in conformity with the Honor Code.

The instructor reserves the right to change or modify this course and the syllabus for justifiable reasons, subject to appropriate and timely notice to the students enrolled in this class.