Physics 703 - Fall 2014
Classical Field Theory I
Contact Information
Learning Outcomes (includes Syllabus)
Course Policies and Classwork
Methods of Evaluation
Course Content
Course Schedule
Lecture Times: MWF 10:50 AM - 11:40 AM
Lecture Room: PSC 205
Professor: Prof. Milind V. Purohit
Office: PSC 609 / PSC 404
Office Hours: Mon 2-3:30 (room TBA), Sat 1-2:30 (by video)
Phone: 777-6996 / 777-4983
Home Page: "Milind V. Purohit's Home Page"
By the end of the term, successful students should be able to do the
following:
- Obtain the charge distribution and / or the potential for a
configuration of charges or conductors specified in one of many ways.
- Solve boundary value problems in electrostatics using various
mathematical techniques.
- Examine the effect of charge distributions at large distances using
multipoles.
- Demonstrate understanding of the physics of dielectrics and how all techniques above
apply when dielectrics are present in problems.
- Learn how to apply the Laws of Biot and Savart and of Faraday to
magnetostatic problems, including in the presence of magnetic materials.
- Study the basis of electrodynamics: the Maxwell equations, the
potential formulation, Green functions and retarded potentials.
- Demonstrate understanding of electromagnetic radiation and its propagation, including
in waveguides.
- Demonstrate understanding of the radiation and scattering of electromagnetic waves.
Students are expected to know electrodynamics at the PHYS 504 level
before they take this course. Only students who have done well in PHYS
504 should take this course. Also, students are expected to be
thoroughly conversant with mathematical methods of physics at the level
of our PHYS 515/516 courses. Indeed, we emphasize problem solving in
this course, which naturally requires a strong mathematical foundation.
Course Policies (from CTE website):
The University of South Carolina has clearly articulated its policies
governing academic integrity and students are encouraged to carefully
review the policy on the Honor Code in the Carolina Community. Any
deviation from these expectations will result in academic penalties as
well as disciplinary action. The area of greatest potential risk for
inadvertent academic dishonesty is plagiarism. Plagiarism includes, but
is not limited to, paraphrasing or direct quotation of the published or
unpublished work of another person without full and clear
acknowledgement.
Classwork:
Classwork will consist of quizzes, on-board solutions of problems by
students and / or presentations. Students will be encouraged to
participate in discussions and demonstrate understanding in one or more
of these ways.
Students are evaluated through the semester using classwork, homework,
in-class tests as well as a final exam.
Grading:
Students turning in less than 70% of homeworks will automatically earn
an F grade.
For other students, the course score will be calculated as follows:
- 10% of the score is for classwork and in-class tests and quizzes.
- 10% of the score is for effort / participation / extra work / projects.
- 30% for Homework.
- 20% for Tests.
- 30% for the Final Exam.
Typical minimum scores for grades are as follows.
- A: 90%. B+: 85%. B: 75%. C+: 70%. C: 60%. D: 50%.
Homework:
Homework problems will be assigned every week and will
be due at the Wednesday lecture of the next week.
Homework that is up to one week late earns 50% points; after that no
credit will be given.
Attendance: Please note that official USC policy states that
"Absence from more than 10 percent of the scheduled class sessions,
whether excused or unexcused, is excessive and the instructor may choose
to exact a grade penalty for such absences." [Memo from the Provost,
Aug. 25, 2014.]
The course content is derived from a variety of sources, including the
texts below.
Texts:
- Jackson, John David. "Classical Electrodynamics", John Wiley & Sons, 3rd
Edition. ISBN: 047130932X.
-
Griffiths, David. "Introduction to Electrodynamics", Prentice Hall, 3rd
Edition. ISBN: 013805326X.
[This is a highly recommended accompanying text.]
In this course we focus on the basic concepts of electrodynamics:
electrostatics, multipoles, dielectrics, magnetostatics, Maxwell
Equations, electromagnetic waves, and possibly waveguides.
Thus, we cover the highlights of Chapters 1-8 in the
textbook by Jackson.
In the next semester's continuation of this course, i.e., in PHYS 704,
we will study waveguides, radiation, scattering, optics, the
relativistic formulation of electrodynamics, special relativity, and
applications of relativistic electrodynamics. We will study also
introductory classical field theory.
Office of Student Disability Services policy statement
"Any student with a documented disability should contact the Office of
Student Disability Services at 803-777-6142 to make arrangements for
appropriate accommodations."
This page is maintained by
"Milind V. Purohit"