Syllabus

Content

This is a 12 unit calculus-based physics subject covering basic electricity and magnetism. It satisfies the General Institute Requirement for physics.

Textbook

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 5th ed., Serway and Beichner. You are also required to purchase an "8.02 Course Reader"

Course Overview

Electromagnetism I is an introduction to electromagnetic fields and forces. Electromagnetic forces quite literally dominate our everyday experience. The material object presenting this text does not fall through the floor to the center of the earth because it is floating on (and held together by) electrostatic force fields. However, we are unaware of this in a visceral way, in large part because electromagnetic forces are so enormously strong, 10 to the 40 times stronger than gravity.

Because of the strength of electromagnetic forces, any small imbalance in net electric charge gives rise to enormous forces that act to try to erase that imbalance.Thus in our everyday experience, matter is by and large electrically neutral, and our direct experience with electromagnetic phenomena is disguised by many subtleties associated with that neutrality. This is very unlike our direct experience with gravitational forces, which is straightforward and unambiguous.

The objectives of this course are to tease out the laws of electromagnetism from our everyday experience by specific examples of how electromagnetic phenomena manifest themselves. We want to be able: (1) to describe, in words, the ways in which various concepts in electromagnetism come into play in particular situations; (2) to represent these electromagnetic phenomena and fields mathematically in those situations; (3) and to predict outcomes in other similar situations. The overall goal is to use the scientific method to come to understand the enormous variety of electromagnetic phenomena in terms of a few relatively simple laws.

Studio Format

8.02 is being taught in the TEAL/Studio Physics format. This course format differs substantially from the lecture/recitation format. In this format, classes are held three times a week, twice in a two-hour block, and once in a one-hour block. Students sit at tables of nine in a specially designed classroom, with three groups of three students at each table. Mini-lectures are interspersed with desktop experiments and group problem solving and discussion. The one-hour session on Friday is reserved entirely for problem solving.

The course design is based on the following premises: (1) interaction between teacher and student is an important factor in promoting learning; (2) interaction among students is another; (3) active learning is better than passive learning; (4) hands-on experience with the phenomena under study is crucial; (4) prompt feedback and time on task are important.

Collaborative Work

Scientists and engineers work in groups as well as alone. Social interactions are critical to their success. Most good ideas grow out of discussions with colleagues. This subject encourages collaborative teamwork. As you study together, help your partners, ask each other questions, and critique your group homework and lab write-ups. Teach each other! You can learn a great deal by teaching others.

Readings

You are responsible for reading the textbook and working assigned problems. You will sometimes be assigned homework problems on material that has not yet been covered in class. You should start homework early and get help if needed before the due date.

Electronic Homework

Before each meeting of the class there is are short on-line reading assignment questions which cover some of the material in the up-coming class. These will be submitted through the Integrated Learning Toolkit Course Management System (ILT). This is a password protected system that will also contain a summary of your performance in the course. The due dates of each assignment will be indicated. To receive credit for your work, you must submit your assignment electronically before the due date and time given on the assignment. This is usually at 9 am before every class.

Written Homework

In addition to the short on-line assignments submitted electronically, there will be one longer homework handed in on paper each week. To receive full credit for your hardcopy homework handed in, you must prepare and submit lucid and clearly reasoned written solutions. These problems will be graded and returned.

In-Class Group and Personal Assignments

In almost all classes, individuals and groups (see below) will submit answers to questions about desktop experiments done in class, material covered in the lecture in that class, and so on. You must be present in class to receive credit for assignments submitted either by you or by your group. The in-class work is worth about 15% of your course grade.

Group Work

You will be assigned to a group of three for collaborative work. Your group assignment will be announced at or before the first class, and that assignment will last throughout the semester. If you are not satisfied with the way your group is working, first try to discuss it with your group members. If you cannot arrive at a satisfactory solution, then discuss the problems with your instructor.


Honesty on Problem Set Assignments

You are welcome to and encouraged to work on the assignment problems with fellow students. However, the work you submit should be your own and reflect your own understanding of the subject.

Laboratory

You will be offered hands-on, inquiry-based activities during the class period. These labs allow you to discover various aspects of a physics concept. Labs will vary in length and complexity and will be done in groups.

Tests

Three 1 1/2-hour tests will be given.  These will be evening exams.  The class immediately following each of these tests will be canceled to make up for the evening exam. There will be a final in the course. The final will be a comprehensive exam given during finals week, and will cover all of the subject material.

Excuses from tests

In the case of a compelling and verifiable conflict, a conflict exam for the evening exam will be given following day. Other than this, there will be no make-up exams. A grade of zero will be assigned for unexcused missed tests. If you are excused from a test, the remaining tests will be used to determine the overall average test grade. Excuses from tests must be requested in advance of the test (if you are physically able to do so) from Professor or the Course Administrator. Acceptable excuses will be rare and will be granted only for verifiable and significant reasons.

Grades

Grades are not curved in this subject. If everyone in the class does well, everyone can get an A. Once the final course grade has been computed at the end of the term, grades will be assigned adhering strictly to the break-points below. Grades (+/-) will be assigned based on your overall, weighted class average using the weighting scheme presented below.