Course Information

PHYS 4201/6201

Fall 2006

MWF 9:05 - 9:55, Room 302

Phys 4201 is the first half of a two-semester physics class on Electrodynamics.

The first semester will cover Electrostatics.

Instructor:      Dr. U. Happek

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Room 236, Physics Building

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              uhappek@physast.uga.edu

                                                                                                          (706) 542-2859

Office Hours:     MWF 10:00 - 11:00

Textbook:          Introduction to Electrodynamics, Third Edition, D.J. Griffith

Web Page:         Course information, including homework assignments and                                             solutions will be posted on

http://www.physast.uga.edu/classes/phys4201/happek

Topics:               The topics given below might be subject to changes, and such                                     changes will be announced in class and on the course website.                                      Each student is fully responsible to keep track of such changes by                               attending the class.

                             i.        Vector Calculus, Gradient, Divergence, Curl, Gauss' and                                                    Stokes Theorem, Dirac Delta Function,  Path-, Surface-, and                                           Volume-Integrals.

                                      Mostly Griffith, Chapter 1.

                             ii.       Electrostatics: Coulomb's Law, Electric Field, Gauss' Law,                                                Potential, Electrostatic Energy, Conductors.

                                      Mostly Griffith, Chapter 2.

                             iii.      Electrostatics: Special Techniques.           Laplace's Equation,                                                  Method of Images, Separation of Variables, Multipole                                                  Expansion.

                                      Mostly Griffith, Chapter 3.

                             iv.     Electrostatics: Electric Fields in Matter. Polarization,                                                  Dielectrics.

                                      Mostly Griffith, Chapter 4.

Homework:        Homework will be assigned weekly and posted on the web page.

                             Late submissions will not be accepted.

Tests:                 There will be three tests during the semester, and a cumulative final                           exam.

Grading:            Homework: 40%, Tests: 30%, Final Exam: 30%.

                             Grading Scale:  85 - 100: A                       70 - 84:  B 

                                                             55 - 69: C                       45 - 54:  D

                                                               0 - 44:  F 

Withdrawals:     The Instructor will follow the University rules in dealing with                                        requests for withdrawals.

Note:                   Vector Calculus is an important tool needed throughout this                                           course.  While an introduction into vector analysis will be given in                                       the first weeks of the class, it will be based on the assumption that                                the student has a background in calculus and mathematical                                       methods in physics.

                             It is highly recommended to acquire a mathematical handbook, e.g.      

Handbook of Mathematics by Bronshtein and Semendyayev                                           (Springer).

                             For the serious scientists, the famous integral tables by Gradstein                                   and Ryshik will be an excellent investment.

                             Finally, the inexpensive book "Calculus, an Intuitive and Physical                                Approach" by Morris Kline (Dover) can help to overcome                                              fundamental deficiencies in mathematical techniques.