Instructor: Simonetta Liuti
Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00-12:15, Room 210
Office Hours: Monday.
Textbook: Classical Electromagnetism, Third Edition, J.D. Jackson.
Brief Description and Aim: This course covers the theory of classical electromagnetism, from problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics to the Maxwell Equations. Most topics are going to be addressed by using tools of mathematical physics (Green's functions, spherical harmonics, Bessel functions, etc. ...), which are an essential part of the cultural background of any physicist. The course's ultimate goal is to introduce the basic ideas of the theory of the electromagnetic field. This theory is completely understood witihin the framework of special relativity. The necessary concepts are going to be outlined and discussed in class, therefore preparing the ground for the following part: Electricity and Magnetism - II (offered next Spring), which is centerd around the interaction of radiation with matter.
Some applications are also going to be discussed.
The textbook will be followed closely up to Chapter 6.
Organization and Grading:
The homework assignments will be handed out on Tuesdays and collected on the following Tuesday, every week.
I will also post the homework text and a synopsis of the topics discussed weekly.
You can e-mail me at: sl4y@viginia.edu.
Syllabus