| Syllabus contents: |
PHYS 241H:
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| Instructor:
Dr. Bira van Kolck Office: PAS 357 Office Hours: T 9:30-11:30am; W 1:00-3:00pm E-mail: vankolck@physics.arizona.edu Phone: 520-621-4230 Lectures: T/Th 8:00(!)-9:15 am in PAS 224, 01/11/01 - 05/01/01 Lab: T 2:00-4:50pm in PAS 208, 01/16/01 - 05/01/01 TA: Susan Burke Office: PAS 376 Office Hours: M 9-10am (PAS 339); M 11am-noon (PAS 376) E-mail: sburke@physics.arizona.edu Phone: 520-621-6819 Course Website: www.physics.arizona.edu/~vankolck/phys241h-spring01.html Course Description
This course introduces the elementary concepts of electricity
and magnetism leading to their unification by Maxwell,
and the subsequent understanding of the nature of light, radio,
and other radiation.
Because it governs the structure of atoms, molecules and
materials (and their interaction with radiation) electromagnetism
is of fundamental importance, for example standing at the core of the
semiconductor revolution that continues nowadays with the
development of wireless technology.
The methods developed in the study of interactions among charges are used
extensively in Physics, and the quest for a grand unification with
other interactions (weak, strong, gravitational) is a
--perhaps the-- main goal of modern Physics. Requisites
This course is part of the sequence
PHYS 141-142-241-242.
The official pre-requisite is PHYS 141H (or PHYS 141 with consent of
the instructor) and the official co-requisite is MATH 223.
A mastery of (differential and integral) vector calculus will
be essential to your success in the course.
You are urged to contact the instructor
if you have concerns regarding assumed knowledge.
Textbook and Lab Manual
The required textbook is D. Halliday, R. Resnick, and K.S. Krane,
Physics, 4th Edition, Vol. 2, a good introductory book
known for its rigor and brevity.
You are also required to bring to the Lab the
Laboratory Manual for PHYS 241H, available through the
ASUA Bookstore, as well as two bound, graph-paper-ruled lab books
(e.g. National Brand 53-108).
Lectures
Students are expected to attend every lecture.
Asking questions is essential in Science, so I hope you come
to class and take an active role that will help you develop
physical intuition, which is difficult to get from a textbook. Homework
Problem sets will be announced one week prior to their due date.
They are usually due on Thursdays at the start of class.
Since we might discuss homework solutions in class,
no late homework will be accepted.
The lowest homework score during the semester will be dropped.
Homeworks will count 20% towards the final grade. Lab
Students are required to attend and participate in their
scheduled lab sessions, and to write individual reports.
There is a make-up lab, reserved to students who missed a lab
for a documented medical or family emergency.
Only one lab may be made up.
Students must complete a minimum of 10 weeks of lab in order
to pass the Lab.
Exams
Grading
Total scores will be determined from the weighted average described above,
that is:
The final letter grade will be determined by the relative standings.
Incompletes will only be given to students who have
satisfactorily completed the majority of
the course work and have a valid and serious (e.g. medical)
reason for not completing the remainder.
Other
Items
There is a class website that will be updated regularly with new and/or
revised information. In particular, you can find there a tentative
class schedule. Please visit often, particularly if you miss a lecture.
My role is to help you learn the material,
and I value your feedback.
You are encouraged to drop by to discuss any aspect of the course.
Also, an anonymous comment form should be available at the
website.
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updated: January 16, 2001 |