Course Name
Paradigms in Physics: Static Fields
Course Number
ph422
Year/Term
Winter-2025
Course Credits
4
Class meeting times
7 hours of lecture/discussion per week for five weeks.
Prerequisites
PH 213, MTH 255 (may be taken concurrently), PH 335 recommended
Course description
Theory of static electric, magnetic, and gravitational potentials and fields using the techniques of vector calculus in three dimensions.
Topic/Day
Activities
Resources
Homework Due
Unit: Potentials Due to Discrete Charges
Introduction to the Unit
Learning Outcomes
1/6 Mon
Introduction to the Course
Introduction to Static Fields
Review on your own(as needed):Basic Calculus, Exponentials & Logarithms, Vectors
1/7 Tues
The Position Vector
Dot Product
Calculating the Distance Between Two Points
The Distance Formula (Star Trek)
GSF: The Distance Formula
GEM 1.1.2, 1.1.4
1/8 Wed
Visualizing Potentials
Using Technology to Visualize Potentials
1/9 Thurs
Superposition
Adding Functions Pointwise Electrostatic Potential Due to a Pair of Charges (without Series)
Definition of Power Series
Calculating Power Series Coefficients
Adding Functions Pointwise Calculating Coefficients for a Power Series
Visualizing Power Series Approximations
1/10 Fri
Potential Due to a Pair of Charges: Limiting Cases
Electrostatic Potential Due to a Pair of Charges (with Series)
1/13 Mon
Power Series Sensemaking
Unit: Integration in Curvilinear Coordinates
Introduction to the Unit
Learning Outcomes
1/14 Tues
Modeling Nonuniform Densities
Step Functions
1/15 Wed
1/16 Thurs
Total Charge: Spheres & Cylinders
1/17 Fri
1/20 Mon
MLK (No Class)
Unit: Fields from Continuous Sources
Introduction to the Unit
Learning Outcomes
1/21 Tues
Limiting Cases
1/22 Wed
Introduction to the Lorentz Force Law
GSF: The Lorentz Force Law
GEM 5.1, 5.3.4
Taylor 2.5
1/23 Thurs
Electric Field Due to a Point Charge
Electric Field of a Point Charge
Superposition for Electric Fields
Drawing Electric Field Vectors for Discrete Charges
Electric Field for Two Point Charges
Electric Field Due to a Pair of Charges (without Series)
1/24 Fri
Unit: $\vec{E}$ as a Gradient
Introduction to the Unit
Learning Outcomes
1/27 Mon
The Multivariable Differential
Unit: Gauss's Law (Integral)
Introduction to the Unit
Learning Outcomes
1/28 Tues
Properties of Gradient
Electric Field Due to a Point Charge as a Gradient
GEM 2.1.1-2.1.2
Products of Vectors: Cross Product
Triple Product
GMM: Cross Product
GEM 1.1.1-1.1.3
Vector Surface Elements
1/29 Wed
Unit: Divergence and Curl
Introduction to the Unit
Learning Outcomes
1/30 Thurs
1/31 Fri
2/3 Mon
Divergence Theorem
GSF: The Divergence Theorem
GEM 1.3.4
Taylor 13.7
Differential Form of Gauss's Law
Circulation
Unit: Magnetic Fields
Introduction to the Unit
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
2/4 Tues
Current Density
Total Current
Acting Out Current Density
GSF: Current
GEM 5.1.3, 5.2.2
Magnetic Vector Potential
Magnetic Vector Potential Due to a Spinning Charged Ring
2/5 Wed
Magnetic Field \(\vec{B}\) from Magnetic Vector Potential \(\vec{A}\)
GEM 5.4.1
2/6 Thurs
Stokes' Theorem
Differential Form of Ampère's Law
2/7 Fri
2/10, 7-9pm