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PHYS 415: Electromagnetic Theory I
Prof. S. Teitel: stte@pas.rochester.edu ---- Fall 2023

Course Information

Basics:	Since most of the materials for this course are online, it is essential that you have reasonable internet access so that you can access the course materials on this website. It is also essential that you have the ability to scan or take a digital photo of your work, so that you can electronically upload your homework solutions for the TA to grade. While most of the course material is on this website, some features require you to first login to the University's Blackboard system using your University NetID. You will need to do this to view lecture videos, upload homework, and view your grades. See the Black Board Home Page left side navigation panel for information about technical requirements and support.
Instructors:	See the Instructors page for contact information and office hours.
Lectures:	Monday and Wednesday 10:25-11:40am in BL 269
Course Materials:	All course notes and pre-recorded video lectures are posted on this website. To view the notes, go to the Notes page; to view the videos, go to the Videos page. The Calendar page tells you the timeline for progressing through the material and gives due dates for assignments. To view videos and upload homework you must first log in to the University's Blackboard system using your UR NetID.
Textbooks:	There is no required textbook for this course. All the material you need to know is found in the instructor's lecture notes posted on this website. But if you are looking for other sources for different perspectives, I can suggest the following texts: Two fairly new texts you might try are: Classical Electromagnetism in a Nutshell by A. Garg Modern Electrodynamics, by A. Zangwill Both these are available in ebook form for purchase or rental on Amazon. Older classics are: Classical Electrodynamics, 3rd edition by J.D. Jackson Classical Electrodynamics, 2nd edition by J.D. Jackson The Classical Electromagnetic Field by L. Eyges Classical Electricity and Magnetism, 2nd edition by W.K.H. Panofsky and M. Phillips Note that the 2nd edition of Jackson uses CGS units throughout, while the 3rd edition uses MKS units in the first half and CGS units in the second half. In this course we will use only CGS units. The texts by Eyges and by Panofsky and Phillips are available as ebooks from the University Libraries. To access them you will need to login to the Libraries' website using your UR NetID. Then you will find the texts at these links: Eyges and Panofsky Another good book, at the undergraduate level, is: Introduction to Electrodynamics, by D.J. Griffiths Library Resources - this link will take you to the University Libraries' page listing all the above texts.
Exams:	Midterm Exam: Tuesday, November 7, 8:30-10:30am in BL 315 Endterm Exam: Tuesday, December 19, 12:30-2:30pm in BL 269 The Endterm Exam will focus on the material since the Midterm Exam. The exam will be closed book, but you may bring a "cheat sheet". No notes, books, internet resources, or consultations with others are allowed, but you may bring a single 8.5"x11" sheet of paper on which you have written whatever notes you like. You may write on only one side of the page. I will also give you a sheet of formulas for various standard vector calculus and electromagnetic equations. You may see this sheet here. You may see problems from previous years' exams by going to those class websites, found here.
Homework:	Homework must be handed in on time, uploaded to the Blackboard system. If for some reason you are having a problem with Blackboard, then email your work directly to Prof. Teitel. Late homework will be penalized at the discretion of the instructors. All homework must be handed in, even if too late to receive credit, for you to receive a grade in the course. Any request for an extension on the homework should be made by email to Prof. Teitel before the due date of the assignment. Working through the homework problems is the best way to learn the material in this course. When writing up your solutions, please be sure to include sentences to explain your steps -- that will make it easier for the grader to give you partial credit when you have made a mistake. You must upload your solutions to the Blackboard system, using the upload link given on the Problem Set Uploads page in Blackboard. You must collate your solutions into a single, multi-page, pdf file. Do not send multiple files, or jpg images. Homeworks will be graded by the Teaching Assistant. If you have a question or complaint about how you were graded, you must first contact the TA. If you cannot get satisfaction from the TA, you are then welcome to contact Prof. Teitel.
Academic Honesty:	You are strongly encouraged to discuss homework problems with your classmates and to work together on the Problem Sets, but you may not consult with anyone outside the course. After working on problems with classmates, you must write up your solutions independently on your own. Outside consultations, or direct copying of a classmate's work, or copying from solutions obtained elsewhere, are not permitted. Similarly, any use of notes (except the permitted "cheat sheet"), books, internet resources, or consultations with any others on exams is not permitted. Any transgression of these rules will be regarded as a violation of academic honesty. See the University's general Academic Honesty Policy for further information.
Grading:	Your grade in the course will be determined by your performance according to the weights below. Note that the homework counts as the largest weight. Missing a homework assignment, and so getting a zero on it, is the best way to do poorly in the course. Homework: 50% Midterm Exam: 25% Enterm Exam: 25%