P331 is a three credit-hour lecture course that is continued in the spring semester as P332. The course is on electricity and magnetism, designed for undergraduates at the junior or senior level.
We essentially live in an electromagnetic world since essentially every force that we experience in every day life, with the exception of gravity, is electromagnetic in origin. There are other forces such as the strong and weak forces of subatomic particles, but it is only electromagnetic forces that are completely understood.
In the first semester, electrodynamics will be assembled piece by piece culminating in the sheer beauty and elegance of Maxwell's equations. We will first setup up the necessary tools learning about vector analysis and vector calculus and then launch into electrostatics as well as ways to solve the equations we set up such as Laplace's equations. Turning to the real world, we will then learn of electric fields in matter, polarization, and dielectrics. Shifting to the other side of the coin, we then turn to magnetostatics and magnetic fields in matter. Forces on charged particles by these electric and magnetic fields will be covered as the beginning of electrodynamics. The concept of induction, or changing magnetic fields generating electric fields (and vice versa), will then lead to their inexorable linking in Maxwell's Equations of electromagnetism.
Along with lectures and assigned problem sets, use will be made of simulation software in a computer lab enhancing understanding by effective graphical presentation of fields and animations of various electromagnetic configurations.
Do not hesitate to contact Prof.
Rick Van Kooten for questions, details, etc.
