PHYS 450 - Electromagnetism I

Units: 3
Focus on electrostatics and magnetostatics, with an emphasis on the properties and sources of vector fields both in vacuum and in the presence of matter.

Prerequisites: MATH 230, and PHYS 126 or PHYS 137.
Equivalent Quarter Course: The two semester sequence PHYS 450 and PHYS 451 is equivalent to the three quarter sequence PHYS 4001 and PHYS 4002 and PHYS 4003.
Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Course Typically Offered: Variable Intermittently

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Students will be able to explain a variety of basic electric and magnetic physical phenomena.
Students will be able to develop models and apply advanced mathematical techniques, such as vector calculus differential equations to solve physics problems. A special emphasis is placed on the gradient, divergence as a means to develop Maxwell’s equations in differential form.
Students will be able to identify an appropriate coordinate system, and analyze physics problems in several different coordinate systems.
Students will be able to explain how electric fields are created and how those fields then interact with matter, being able to anticipate and describe the different responses of conductors and dielectrics to electric fields.
Students will be able to explain how magnetic fields are created and how those fields then interact with matter, being able describe the classical model and interpretation of the response of paramagnets and diamagnets to magnetic fields. Students shall have a basic understanding of ferromagnetism with an understanding that quantum mechanics is needed to fully describe the phenomena.