Electo-Magneto Statics Spring 2024

Lecturer: W. Unruh. 311B Hennings bldg (East side of bldg inside Rm 311).
Tel: 822 3273 FAX: 822 5324
Email:

Teaching Assistant: Luke Kuhn
Phone:

Email:

Web Site: www.theory.physics.ubc.ca/301-24
(For Assignments, Solutions, extra notes, this blurb, etc.)

Text: Griffiths: Introduction to Electrodynamics (5th edition) plus additional notes. (The 4th edition should also work)

Course Times: Lectures MWF 9:00-10:00 Life 2202

Course components: (The mark distributions are approximate)

Midterms=about 20%
The midterm will take place February 28, 2024. Traditionally my midterms have been hard especially because students are not used to my problem style. (I value people being able to think about what they have learned rather than rote regurgitation of the material).
Assignments= about 20%
There will be about 8 assignments throughout the term. It is important that these be done on time. Solutions will be posted here on this web site (www.theory.physics.ubc.ca/341-current ) Assignments will be due about 7 days after they are assigned and solutions will be posted about three days later. Assignments handed in after the solutions are posted will not receive marks.
Late assignments will loose 5% per day, until the solutions are posted, at which time you will get 0 for that assignment if it has not been handed in. The solution posting time is the time of appearance of the solutions on the course web page, which can be accurately determined to the second. Note that assignments put into the box outside my office after I have left for the day should be date-stamped by some other responsible, disinterested person, so I know when it was put into the box. DO NOT put them into the metal racks outside 311B as I do not look for them there.
You may discuss the problems with each other, and approach either me or the TA with questions (we will not solve the problems for you, but will try to provide guidance as to how to think about the problems) However, I expect all of you to write up and understand your own solutions. Copying someone else's solutions will not be looked on with favour. (Plagiarism-- the use of someone elses material as if it were your own-- is a high offence in the university. This includes copying other people's solutions to assignments or having someone else do your work for you. People have been barred from the university for such offences.) I do encourage you to work together on assignments and on trying to understand the questions, the course material or even how to do the problems by working together. However you must write up your own solutions, using your own understanding of the solutions in writing it up.
Essay= about 25%
Due:Friday Apr 12 .
Length: 10 pages.--ie, 3000 words
Format: Up to you. (Eg, if a web page would be more suitable to the way you want to make your point, use that, or if a tape, CD, DVD, MD would be useful, I can read those-- but do not send me the computer files from proprietary editors (MS Word, etc) assuming that I can read them on my computer. I cannot. Of course you may use whatever document processor you wish to in order to produce a printed paper copy, which I can read. I can also accept postscipt or PDF documents for electronic submission. If in any doubt, ask me.)
Make sure you reference your sources. That includes using online sources.
I do not mind you using things like Google or ChatGP to help you find material, or to learn from but use of the output as your essay is plagerism, and will be treated harshly. If I have doubts about your essay, I do reserve the right to discuss the material with you befor giving you a mark.
Remember that these LargeLanguageModels behave as though they were liars or sociopaths. They will give the questioner what they think they want, or make up material or sources for their answers. They will also treat the online material of kooks or charlatans the same weight as that of reputable physicists or public commentators.
The essay topic is up to you to decide. It can be on any topic in the physics or engineering of electromagnetism, whether electrostatics or electrodynamics. . This should be a chance for you to study in more depth some topic which you would be interested in knowing more about, or which you think I would be interested in learing more about (or should learn more about :-). .
Please make sure that you have an idea of what you want to write on by the time of the midterm. You are expected to do your own (secondary source is fine, although primary source is also good) research on your topic, and any indication of a "canned" essay (Ie, any essay written in whole or in part by someone else) will be regarded with great disfavour by both me and the University. (See the University Policy on Plagiarism in the calendar.) (Students have been expelled for handing in essays written by others, or where major sources were not attributed).
You are required to state your sources for the material you use with an appropriate bibliographical reference. The format of the Bibliographical reference I leave up to you, as long as it allows me to find the location of the material.
You can use the Web as a bibliographical source, but treat it with appropriate suspicion. Anyone can post anything on the web. Truth or validity is not a necessary criterion for posting material on the internet.
Re the length. By 10 pages I mean about 3000 words, Title page, blank inside pages do not count as "pages". The shorter the essay, the more important the words contained in it are and it is hard (though not impossible) to make a 2000 word essay so compelling that this makes up for its length. Furthermore, very very few pictures are worth 1000 words. While the use of pictures is encouraged, they should be relevant and contribute to the understanding of the essay, and should be minimal size to convey what they are meant to convey. Essays over 4000 words annoy me, as I have to read them under time pressure at the end of term. Annoying the marker is never a good tactic. (Of course, if the essay is so brilliant that I just cannot put it down, I might well not notice its length.)
Line spacing should be 1.5 to double space.
Late essays will loose 5% of the maximum mark per week (or part of a week) late. Thus if the essay is marked out of 20 marks, each week late will loose 1 mark. The maximum possible loss is 20%, but by that time the marks have to be in to the dean, and you will get an Incomplete on the course. If that incomplete status lasts long enough the mark you get will be as if the essay had gotten 0.
Final= about 35%
The final exam will consist of a number of questions of which you will not have to answer all for maximum marks (ie, there will be some choice). It will test a combination of your knowing the material and your ability to use it to think about the world.

I have not made the above mark distribution definite as I want freedom to be able to adjust class marks to take into account happenstances of the year.

I expect everyone to pass, although offer no guarantees. On past record it is rare to fail the course if you put in the work. In fact, in the past students have, in general, done well, but this course will require you to think.

Purpose of the Course

The purpose of the course is to begin you understanding of modern classical electromagnetic theory. 301 covers the approximation in which time scales are much longer than any distance scales divided by the velocity of light. In large part it is to learn to manipulate the mathematics of functions of many variables, and to begin to understand modern Field theory. While historically the electromagnetism began as separate theories of electricty and magnetism, and only gradually became the unified theory it is now, I will approach this course from the viewpoint of modern electromagnetic theory, in which the potentials are the fundamental, although not-directly-measureable quantities, with the electric and magnetic fields being derived from the potentials rather than vice-versa. This will be to a certain extent in tension with Griffith's philosophy in his text. So be it. It is also to prepare you for Physics 401, electro-magnetic dynamics, in which the 21st century approach of EM plays a stronger role.

Copying, Plagiarism, etc

As you should know by now, copying and plagiarism are frowned up very strongly by the university. I also get upset. I am perfectly fine with you working together on the assignment but everyone should make sure that they write up the solutions separately. Simply copying your friends assignment can land you in very hot water-- i.e., do not do it. Working together on the exams (Mid Term or final) is not acceptable.
Similarly, plagiarism is also not to be done. This includes using an essay you have already used for another course, copying other people's essays, buying essays off the web or elsewhere, having someone else write your essay for you, using material from the web or elsewhere without properly referencing it, etc.
The Calendar has an extensive section on Academic misconduct.
Plagiarism and Citation described and
Discipline for Academic Misconduct and especially
Calendar entry on Academic Misconduct
Please read them. Violation of these rules can lead to disciplinary actions, ranging from a mark of 0 on the assignment/essay, failure of the course, or expulsion from the university.

I do not pass essays through TurnItIn because I feel that their appropriation of your work to further they own commercial interests without permission or compensation makes my using it hypocritical. I do however have a fair knowledge of the material on the web and in books, and have often been able to identify when people have simply copied something. If I am very suspicious of a paragraph or so from your essay, I might submit it on its own to TurnItIn without any reference to you or the context of the larger essay.

I also reserve the right to call you in for a discussion of your essay, especially if I feel that it might have violated any of the above proscription.

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