Syllabus

 

Physics 130A -- Electricity and Magnetism

 

Instructor:  Thomas Moses, Office: D110 SMC, ext. 7341, tmoses@knox.edu

 

Class Meetings:  MWThF 3rd hour, D108 SMC.

 

Text:  Douglas C. Giancoli, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 3rd ed. (Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 2000). ISBN: 978-0132431064.

 

Course Website:

http://course.knox.edu/physics130/

 

Direct connection to the homework site (if the Knox web server is down):

http://wug.physics.uiuc.edu/cc/knox/phys130A/spring09/

 

Homework:  Homework problem sets, adapted from Giancoli's text, will be available on-line at the course website.  The Tycho Physics software displays the problems, with your own individually-customized random numerical parameters, provides hints if requested, and gives instant feedback by telling you when your answer is correct.  For full credit, homework sets are due by 9:00 am on the due day.  Generally, homework problems can be completed up to one week after the due date for half-credit.

           

Working out the homework problems is probably the most important single aspect of the course for learning physics.  It is in the effort to understand specific problems that you make real progress is made in understanding.  You are encouraged to work together in groups on the homework problems; you may consult other books or people, and especially, you may feel free to consult me if you have trouble with a problem.

           

Labs:  Laboratory sessions will be held every Tuesday in D105 (across the hall from the classroom).  Information about the laboratory component of the course will be distributed at the first lab meeting.

Lab instructor: Prof. Mark Shroyer, mshroyer@knox.edu

 

Exams:  There will be two mid-term exams and a comprehensive final exam, as well as periodic small quizzes.

            Exam 1             Friday, April 17

            Exam 2             Monday, May 11

            Final exam                   

 

Grade Weighting:          Homework                                           15%

                                    Labs                                                     15%

                                    Quizzes                                                10%

                                    Mid-term exams                                   17.5% each

                                    Final                                                     25%

 

Late Policy:  Late homework counts half credit.  As usual in science courses, it is absolutely vital not to fall behind in the homework.

 

Course Description:

     This course concerns the phenomena of electricity and magnetism.  The treatment is algebra-based, with no requirement of using calculus.  We will find that electrical and magnetic forces constitute a basic kind of interaction between bodies, somewhat akin to the gravitational force.  Electrical forces are the most important forces in everyday life, accounting for friction, the contact force exerted by surfaces, and the tension force holding a solid object (like you) together, as well as all the changes in molecular structure studied in chemistry.  The description of electrical phenomena is simplified by the concept of a force field called the electric field, envisioned as a region of influence surrounding an electric charge.  The field concept, one of the great creative leaps in the history of ideas, is basic to our modern understanding of nature.  We will see that electric and magnetic phenomena are related, so much so that one may in fact speak of the electromagnetic field.  It turns out that light is essentially a propagating wave of the electromagnetic field--your personal electromagnetic wave detectors are reading these words now.  In the two weeks of the course, we will shift our attention to two new topics—fluids and introductory quantum physics.

     Throughout the course, we will concentrate on developing two kinds of skills: (1) a qualitative, intuitive understanding of physical phenomena, and (2) quantitative reasoning and problem solving.  Problem solving is an important part of the course, and it is certainly one of my goals to convince you that thinking hard about a puzzle in physics can be a lot of fun.  The laboratory component (Tuesdays) is another important part of the course, allowing for some hands-on experience (and tinkering) with circuits, magnets, and fluid systems.

    

Physics 130A -- Approximate Calendar:

 

Week   Chapter            Topic                                                                          

  1-2     21                    Electric charge and electric field

  2-3     23                    Electric potential, Capacitance

  4        25                    Electric currents and resistance

     Exam 1

  5        26                    DC Circuits

  6        26, 27              DC Circuits, Magnetism

  7        28                    Sources of magnetic field

     Exam 2

  8        29                    Magnetic induction

  9        13                    Fluids

 10       28                    Early quantum theory and models of the atom