8.022 :: Electricity and Magnetism

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Department of Physics
Physics II (8.022) — Electricity and Magnetism — Spring 2008

GENERAL INFORMATION

Welcome to 8.022! Electromagnetic forces are largely responsible for the
form of the world around us, including most of our technology, the structure of matter, and the existence of light. This class tells the dramatic story of the theory of electromagnetism, from its humble beginnings as a loose collection of facts about the sap of some extinct Baltic trees, to its present status as our most successful physical theory.

This document provides the course goals, prerequisites, and policies, along with some advice on whether to take 8.022 or 8.02, and some strategies for success.

PEOPLE

GOALS

The immediate goals of this course are for you to learn classical electromagnetism well enough to solve difficult science and engineering problems and understand a wide range of natural phenomena. You will also become fluent in vector calculus, the mathematical language of the theory.

You will learn about: electric charge, forces, and fields; electrostatic energy; Gauss's Law; perfect conductors; capacitors; dipoles; insulators; electric current; circuits and Kirchoff's Laws; magnetic forces and fields; the Biot-Savart Law; Ampère's Law; Faraday's Law; inductance; magnetic properties of materials; electromagnetic oscillatons and resonance; impedance; electromagnetic waves, momentum, and radiation; the relation of electromagnetism to special relativity.

The broader goals of this course are for you to learn to find creative solutions to physics problems; to use symmetry principles and other insights to avoid laborious calculations; to become adept with approximations and order-of-magnitude estimates when appropriate; to understand the utility and the limitations of common idealizations in physics (such as perfect conductors and point charges); and to appreciate both the practical importance and the aesthetic achievement of Maxwell's Equations.

PREREQUISITES

We will assume you have already mastered single-variable calculus (e.g., differentiation, integration, Taylor expansions) at the level of 18.01, and Newtonian mechanics (e.g., vectors, force and momentum, torque and angular momentum) at the level of 8.01. Also required is prior knowledge of vector calculus, or concurrent enrollment in 18.02 (or equivalent).

BOOKS

• Required: Electricity and Magnetism by E. Purcell, 2nd ed. (McGraw-Hill, 1985).
• Highly recommended: Div, Grad, Curl: An Informal Text on Vector Calculus by H. Schey, 4th ed. (Norton, 2005). Read this if you are having trouble with the math, or if you need a reminder.
• Also recommended are the 8.022 lecture notes written by Prof. S. Hughes (although this course will not be exactly the same): http://web.mit.edu/sahughes/www/8.022
• An entertaining survey of the historical development of electromagnetism is The Electric Universe by D. Bodanis (Three Rivers Press, 2006).
• If you are feeling brave: Volume II of The Feynman Lectures by R. Feynman (Addison-Wesley, 1965) contains many insights about electromagnetism.
• A more mathy but very good book is Introduction to Electrodyamics by D. Griffiths (Prentice Hall, 3rd edition).
• Supplementary lecture notes will be posted to the course webpage at several points during the semester.

SHOULD I TAKE 8.022 OR 8.02?

This course is more theoretical and mathematical than 8.02. The problem sets, quizzes, and final exam are more challenging. Yet, despite the extra difficulty, you will receive exactly the same academic credit as you would receive in 8.02. Why, then, should you take this course instead of 8.02?

Good reasons include: You love physics. You are thinking of majoring in physics or electrical engineering. You like to be challenged. You are good at math and enjoy learning about its physical applications. You want to work hard and achieve a deep understanding.

Bad reasons include: You feel obligated to take the hardest course that is offered, even though you do not really want to. A friend of yours is taking this course. You have heard bad things about TEAL. This course fits better into your schedule. You prefer a course in which attendance is not taken.

Please think carefully about your reasons for taking this class. In our experience, students who take this course for bad reasons do not learn much and have a high probability of failing the course. We do not want anybody to fail. We want you to succeed!

• Attend all of the lectures and all of your recitations. Lectures are mainly for understanding concepts, and recitations are mainly for solving example problems and asking questions. However, new material will occasionally be presented in recitations, and you will be responsible for that material.
• Visit your professors, graduate T.A., and undergraduate tutor during their office hours if you have additional questions or need individualized help, or if you just want to talk about physics.
• Work hard on the problem sets. After you turn them in, consult the solutions for the problems that you did not know how to solve. The quizzes and the final exam will each have at least one problem that is very closely related to a homework problem.
• Read the assigned sections of Purcell before each lecture, or shortly afterwards. Do not fall behind in the reading. There will be no time to make it up later.
• Do the optional laboratory experiments. They are fun, they will give you some hands-on experience with electromagnetism, and you will earn some extra credit.

GRADES

There will be two in-class exams (in room 6-120 during normal class hours):

Wednesday, February 27 (Quiz #1) will cover material up to capacitors.

Monday, April 7 (Quiz #2) will cover material through EM oscillators (free and driven).

In addition, there will be a comprehensive 3-hour final during final-exam week.

Because we want to give you every incentive to work together, we will not grade "on a curve." Your final numerical grade will be the weighted sum of your scores on the problem sets, quizzes, and final exam:

Your letter grade will be determined from your numerical grade G as follows:

For first-year students, a C– or better is required to pass.

There will be 3 opportunities to earn extra credit by completing an evening laboratory experiment. Successful completion of one experiment will give you 2 extra points on your final numerical grade. You may therefore earn up to 6 extra points. (If you intend to apply to medical school, you should complete all 3 of the extra-credit laboratory experiments. This is because a common prerequisite for medical school is a laboratory-based physics sequence.)

There will be 12 problem sets. The one with the lowest score will not be counted towards your numerical grade.

OTHER POLICIES

• We encourage you to work together on problem sets. You should wrestle with a problem yourself, then discuss it with your friends, and then write up the solution by yourself.
• Late problem sets will not be accepted, and make-up quizzes will not be given.
• Problem sets will be posted under the `Problem Sets' section of this website. They will generally be due on Fridays at 10:00 A.M. in your section's lockbox. The lock boxes are located on the 3rd floor of Bldg. 8, at the junction with Bldg. 16. There are some exceptions to this rule, caused by holidays and exams:
  pset 1 will be due Friday 2/8 at 5PM.
  pset 4 (insulators) will be due Monday 3/3 at 10AM.
  pset 8 (EM oscillators) will be due Friday 4/4 at 5PM.
• The quizzes and final examination will be closed-book. No calculators, books, or memory aids of any kind will be allowed.
• Requests for grade corrections must take the form of a specific and clearly written note. For homework, staple the note to your graded paper and put it in your section's lockbox. For quizzes, see your recitation instructor.
• Lectures will begin promptly at 10:05 A.M. The lecturer will notice if you come in late. Likewise, lectures will end promptly at 10:55 A.M.
• There are 8 recitation sections. If you want to change your section, use the on-line Grade Management System:
  https://gluonsandquarks.mit.edu/grade_management.htm
• Many useful items, including the course calendar (with a listing of lecture topics, quiz dates, and reading assignments), the schedule of office hours, and supplementary lecture notes can be found on the course web site:
  

  http://web.mit.edu/8.022/www/index.shtml

Announcements, problem sets, solution sets, and other materials will also be distributed via the web site. Please check it regularly.