Course Description

The course text is University Physics, Pitt custom edition, vol. 2, by Young and Freedman.

Topics to be covered include:

• Electric Charge and Fields (ch 22)
• Gauss' Law (ch 23)
• Electric Potential (ch 24)
• Capacitance (ch 25)
• Current and Resistance (ch 26)
• Circuits (ch 27)
• Magnetic Fields (ch 28)
• Magnetic Fields due to Currents (ch 29)
• Induction (ch 30)
• Maxwell's Equations (ch 30)
• Electromagnetic Oscillations (ch 31)
• Electromagnetic Waves (ch 34)
• Interference (ch 37)
• Diffraction (ch 38)
• Quantum Theory (chs 41,42,43) [if time permits]

Course Objectives

Students will be able to

• apply Gauss's and Coulomb's laws to solve problems in electrostatics
• obtain electric fields from given charge configurations
• analyse electrical circuits in terms of Kirchhoff's and Ohm's laws
• explain and apply the concept of the magnetic field to the motion of charged particles, loops, motors, and other systems
• construct and solve differential equations describing RL, LC, and LRC circuits
• use power and energy concepts to describe circuits containing resistors, capacitors, and inductors
• apply the Leibnitz force law to describe the motion of charged particles in a magnetic field
• apply the laws of Biot-Savart and Ampere to derive the magnetic field due to given charge configurations
• apply Faraday's and Lenz's laws to describe electromagnetic induction and induced fields
• compute the flow of energy and momentum due to electromagnetic waves
• apply Huygen's principle, Snell's law, and Brewster's law to derive properties of reflected, refracted, and polarized light

Contact Information

• Lecturer: Eric Swanson
• Office: 217 Allen Hall
• Office hours: you may drop by any time
• Phone: 624-9057
• E-mail: swansone@pitt.edu
• Lectures: MW 6:00-7:40 (Thaw 104)
• course web site: http://bloodaxe.phyast.pitt.edu/py175

Marking Scheme:

Teaching Assistant:

• Vikas Bansal, e-mail: vikas@merlin.phyast.pitt.edu

Help Desk Hours
Physics Table Hours (Cathedral of Learning)

Assignments

• Ass't 1: 22-14, 22-54, 22-81, 22-84. Due Jan 14.
• Ass't 2: 23-24, 23-36, 23-38, 23-49. Due Jan 21.
• Ass't 3: 24-49, 24-54, 24-59, 24-79. Due Jan 28.
• Ass't 4: 25-8, 25-22, 25-52, 25-56. Due Feb 11.
• Ass't 5: 26-19, 26-20, 26-32, 26-48, 26-52. Due Mar 5.
• Ass't 6: 27-8, 27-16, 27-29, 27-32, 27-46, 27-66. Due Mar 17.
• Ass't 7: 28-2, 28-20, 28-26, 28-48, 28-58, 28-65. Due Mar 24.
• Ass't 8: 29-14, 29-24, 29-56, 30-13, 30-16, 30-34. Due Apr 9.
• Ass't 9: 31-7, 31-30, 31-45, 33-7, 33-13, 33-47. Due Apr 16.

Special Dates

• Jan 5 classes begin
• Jan 16 last day to drop class
• Jan 19 MLK day
• Feb 16, MIDTERM 1
• Mar 7-14 incl, Spring Break
• Mar 24, MIDTERM 2
• Apr 12, MIDTERM 3 [chapters 28,29,30]
• Apr 21, EXAM

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability Resources and Services, 216 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7890/(412) 383-7355 (TTY), as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.

A comprehensive description of the services of that office can be obtained at http://fafnir.phyast.pitt.edu/py175/www.drs.pitt.edu.