Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism)

physics

Phenomena related to electricity and magnetism constitute one of the fundamental branches of physics. Their understanding is therefore an essential part of the basic knowledge required of those studying physical sciences and forms the foundation for further education in this field. During the lecture, the fundamental issues of this domain will be presented. Particular emphasis will be placed on experimental demonstrations of the discussed phenomena, which will also be thoroughly analyzed throughout the lecture. The description of the presented phenomena will include a historical perspective, enabling the tracing of the development of scientific thought over past centuries. Current applications of these phenomena will be discussed. Methods of describing these phenomena will be introduced. The lecture will conclude with an analysis of Maxwell’s equations and their implications.

Classroom

Basic information on electricity and magnetism will be presented. During the lectures a variety of demonstrations will be presented to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

Form of Classes:

• Lecture
  The aim of the lecture is to discuss and demonstrate, through experimental presentations, the most important issues in electricity and magnetism and their consequences.
• Lecture Exercises
  The aim of the lecture exercises is to present the derivations of the most significant topics covered in the lecture, using the appropriate mathematical apparatus.
• Exercises
  The aim of the exercises is to present solutions to computational problems related to the material discussed in the lecture.

Course content:

1. Coulomb’s law, Gauss’s law;
2. Electric field inside and outside conductors; electric field near a sharp edge;
3. Work in a force field, potential, capacitance of a conductor;
4. Electric field in a dielectric; vectors E, P, D; boundary conditions for the electric field at interfaces; capacitance of a dielectric-filled capacitor;
5. Direct current, continuity equation, Ohm’s law, Joule heating;
6. Electrical conductivity of solids, resistor combinations, Kirchhoff’s laws, electromotive force, measuring instruments;
7. Thermoelectric phenomena;
8. Forces acting on a conductor in a magnetic field, Lorentz force;
9. Gauss’s law, Ampère’s law, direct current motor, Biot–Savart law;
10. Magnetic field in matter; vectors B, H, and M; boundary conditions for the magnetic field at interfaces;
11. Macroscopic and microscopic descriptions of magnetism;
12. Earth’s magnetic field;
13. Alternating current, AC circuits, generator, transformer;
14. Maxwell’s equations;
15. Electromagnetic waves.

Teaching Methods:

• Problem-based lecture
  Presentation of theoretical issues with emphasis on explaining phenomena and their consequences.
• Experimental demonstrations
  Demonstrations of physical phenomena during classes, accompanied by detailed discussion.
• Computational exercises
  Solving calculation problems related to the material discussed in the lecture.
• Lecture exercises
  Derivations of formulas and equations using appropriate mathematical apparatus.
• Didactic discussion
  Joint analysis of experimental results and problem solutions.
• Activating methods
  Problem questions, short quizzes, and tasks for independent solution.
• Case analysis
  Discussion of contemporary applications of the phenomena in science and technology.

Basic textbooks:

D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, Fundamentals of Physics Extended, (John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2014)

S. J. Ling, J. Sanny, W. Moebs, University Physics, v. 2 (OpenStax

2016)

Additional textbooks (in Polish):

E. M. Purcell, Electricity and Magnetism (Cambridge University Press 2013)

A. K. Wróblewski, J. A. Zakrzewski, Wstęp do fizyki, t. 2 część 1 i część 2, PWN 1991

Jan Gaj, Elektryczność i magnetyzm, Wydawnictwa UW, 2000

David J. Griffiths, Podstawy elektrodynamiki, PWN, 2001

R.P.Feynman, R.B.Leighton, M.Sands, Feynamana wykłady z fizyki, PWN, 2007

Problems (in Polish):

D. Halliday, R. Resnick, J. Walker, Podstawy fizyki, Zbiór zadań PWN, 2005

A. Hennel, W. Szuszkiewicz, Zadania i problemy z fizyki PWN, 1997

J.Jędrzejewski, W.Kruczek, A.Kujawski, Zbiór zadań z fizyki, PWN ,1976

Assessment elements are:

• Homework assignments.
  Each homework set will contain one mandatory task. The mandatory task will be checked and graded. The remaining tasks are optional; if submitted, they will be checked but not graded. The submission deadline for each homework set will be announced at least two weeks in advance.
• Midterm test.
  The midterm consists of a test covering the material discussed in the lecture and computational problems covering the material discussed in the exercises and lecture exercises.
• Written exam.
  The written exam consists of computational problems covering the material discussed in the exercises and lecture exercises. One of the exam problems will be selected from the optional homework tasks. The prerequisite for admission to the written exam is passing (minimum 50% of points) the mandatory homework tasks or the midterm test.
• Oral exam.
  The oral exam consists of three questions. The list of questions will be made available before the examination session. Two questions will be drawn at random, and one question will be chosen independently by the student. The prerequisite for admission to the oral exam is obtaining at least 50% of the total points from homework, the midterm, and the written exam.

The final grade for the course is the average of two grades:

• The grade resulting from the sum of points from homework, the midterm, and the written exam.

Point thresholds for individual grades:

• [50%-60%) – sufficient (3)
• [60%-70%) – sufficient plus (3.5)
• [70%-80%) – good (4)
• [80%-90%) – good plus (4.5)
• [90%-95%) – very good (5)
• [95%-100%] – excellent (5!)
• The grade from the oral exam

Requirements for individual grades:

• Excellent: the student explains phenomena and performs calculations flawlessly, presenting their reasoning in an exemplary manner.
• Very good: the student explains phenomena and performs calculations flawlessly or with minor errors not affecting the physical meaning of the explanations or calculations.
• Good: the student explains the simplest phenomena and performs the simplest calculations flawlessly or with minor errors not affecting the physical meaning of the explanations or calculations; occasionally makes mistakes or cannot perform more complex tasks in this area.
• Sufficient: the student explains the simplest phenomena and performs the simplest calculations flawlessly or with minor errors not affecting the physical meaning of the explanations or calculations; makes mistakes or cannot perform more complex tasks in this area.

The excellent grade is counted in the average as 5.5. The course is passed if both grades are positive.

Resit exam

The resit exam consists of two parts:

• Written exam.
  The written exam consists of computational problems covering the material discussed in the exercises and lecture exercises.
  

  Point thresholds for the written exam grades:

  • [50%-60%) – grade 3
  • [60%-70%) – grade 3.5
  • [70%-80%) – grade 4
  • [80%-90%) – grade 4.5
  • [90%-100%] – grade 5
• Oral exam.
  The oral exam consists of three questions. The list of questions will be made available before the examination session. Two questions will be drawn at random, and one question will be chosen independently by the student. The prerequisite for admission to the oral exam is obtaining a positive grade from the written exam.
  

  Requirements for oral exam grades:

  • Very good: the student explains phenomena and performs calculations flawlessly or with minor errors not affecting the physical meaning of the explanations or calculations.
  • Good: the student explains the simplest phenomena and performs the simplest calculations flawlessly or with minor errors not affecting the physical meaning of the explanations or calculations; occasionally makes mistakes or cannot perform more complex tasks in this area.
  • Sufficient: the student explains the simplest phenomena and performs the simplest calculations flawlessly or with minor errors not affecting the physical meaning of the explanations or calculations; makes mistakes or cannot perform more complex tasks in this area.

The final grade is the average of the written and oral exam grades, and the course is passed if both grades are positive.

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