This is an intermediate course in the theory of electric and magnetic phenomena, for junior or senior level students. It is intended primarily for physics majors, but should be of interest also to many other students, especially those in the sciences and engineering. Prerequisite are PHY 161/162 General Physics I&II, MAT 293 Multivariable Calculus, and MAT 330 Introduction to Differential Equations. Students are therefore assumed to know some basic physics, and to be able to use vector calculus and simple differential equations. After a review of vector analysis, we will study the behavior of electric and magnetic fields in vacuum, leading to Maxwell’s equations. Then we will see how including the effect of background matter affects the fields, and consider Maxwell’s equations with materials. Finally we will consider the role of relativity in electrodynamics. The goal is for students to go beyond conceptual understanding of these topics, becoming able to perform nontrivial analysis and calculations which go beyond the level of an introductory physics course.

• Lectures: During most class meetings there will be some conventional lectures. We will also discuss the material and go over problems in the text, including homework.
• Homework: From time to time the instructor will assign some homework problems to be worked by the students and handed in for grading. After the papers are collected, a solution sheet will be provided. The homeworks will be worth 30% of the total grade.
• Tests: There will be four of these, open-book, containing primarily numerical problems and derivations, but also some conceptual questions. They will be worth 40% of the total grade.
• Final Exam: This will take place on Saturday April 29 at 2-5pm. It will cover all the material from the text, and will be worth 30% of the total grade.
• Grading: The percentage for each activity is shown in the left table below. To convert that number to a letter grade, use the scale shown in the right table below.

Miscellaneous policies:

• All parts of this syllabus are tentative and subject to revision.
• Tests for which no alternate arrangements were made beforehand may be made up only if there is an official excuse: e.g., a note from a Dean's office, or a doctor’s note.
• Late homeworks will suffer a 5% penalty per day (excluding Sundays) until they are handed in: i.e., 5% if one day late, 10% if two days late, ...
• There will be no dropped grades. All work done in the course will be counted.
• There will be no extra-credit work.
• The College of Liberal Arts' academic misconduct policy will be followed. In addition, all students are bound by the Mercer University Honor Code.
• Students are strongly encouraged to discuss with the instructors all their work during the course, regardless of their grades. Questions about point awards should be brought up as soon as possible, as all grades will be final one week after the materials are graded and returned to the students.
• Students who believe that they possess disabilities for which reasonable accommodation is required must so inform one of the instructors at the close of their first class meeting. They must then identify their disability and the accommodation requested. The instructor will refer them to the office of the Dean of Students for evaluation, documentation of their disability, and a recommendation as to the accommodation, if any, to be provided. Students who do NOT consult with either instructor and follow up at the office of the Dean of Students, as provided above, will thereby waive any claim to a disability and the right to any accommodation pertaining thereto. All requests for reasonable accommodation are welcome also in regard to absence from class for school representation (i.e., athletic or other events) or personal/family problems. Let's talk about it...