Physics 263: Electrodynamics, Light, Relativity, and  Modern Physics Sections 0101-0105 Spring  2003

Course description: Physics 263 is the third of a three-semester sequence of introductory physics courses designed primarily for students of engineering. The major topics include magnetism, electrodynamics, optics, special relativity, and a brief introduction to modern physics and quantum mechanics.

This picture shows a microwave cavity used to accelerate relativistic electrons at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. These niobium superconducting cavities are about a half meter in length and raise the energy of an electron by about 3 million volts per transit. The electron beam passes through two accelerating sections, each containing 160 cavities, as many as 5 times. Thus, beams with more than 5 billion volts can be delivered to experimental halls for research in nuclear physics. The UMd experimental nuclear physics group conducts much of its research at Jefferson Lab.

General information

• Instructor: James J. Kelly

• Prerequisites: Phys 161+262

• Corequisite: Phys 263A

• Times and places: Click here for the PHYS263 entry in the schedule of classes.

• Text: Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Vol. 2, 5^th edition, R.A. Serway and R.J. Beichner (Saunders College Publishing, 2000)

• Lectures: MWF 1-1:50 in room 1412.  A tentative schedule of lecture topics is provided below.  The primary purpose of the lecture is to explain and demonstrate some of the most important concepts in each chapter, not to repeat every detail or derivation that you could read for yourself.  Nevertheless, you will be responsible for all of the material in each chapter.  Please read the chapter in advance and be prepared to ask questions.  

• Discussion sections: the primary purpose of the discussion sections is to practice problem-solving skills.  The teaching assistant will select several problems from the previous and/or current chapter and discuss problem-solving strategies.  Students will then work in small groups on those problems, discussing among themselves and then with the TA any obstacles encountered.  The weekly quiz problem will be very similar problem to one of these. 

  Section	Time	Room	TA
  0101	W 2-2:50	0405	David Fiske
  0104	W 3-3:50	3301	David Fiske
  0105	Th 8-8:50	3301	David Fiske

• Honors section: students registered for 263H should attend one of the regular discussion sections and inform me of their choice as soon as possible.  In addition to the 263 coursework, a student must also submit a term paper to qualify for honors.  More information about the term paper can be found at phys263H. 

• Homework:  it is important that you complete and understand all of the homework -- you cannot understand the material without being able to solve problems. Practice is essential to the mastery of any subject or skill; even free throws require constant practice.  Homework will be assigned and submitted online via WebAssign.  Instructions for the use of this system may be found here.  The new assignment will be posted each Monday morning and will be due one week later.  Late homework will not be accepted!  For most assignments you will have 10 tries to get the problems correct.  Note that each submission of answers will be counted as try even if you have not attempted some of the problems.  You may work with classmates on homework, but the numbers will be changed randomly for each student.  Therefore, it is important to derive the correct symbolic result first before substituting any numerical values -- this procedure is strongly recommended anyway!

• Weekly quiz: a weekly quiz on the material from the previous week will be given in recitation.  The quiz will take about 10 minutes and will emphasize symbolic, conceptual, or graphical rather than numerical results.  

• Laboratory: physics is an experimental science. The laboratory portion of Physics 263 is Physics 263A. You must complete all of the labs and must pass Physics 263A in order to pass Physics 263, but neither I nor the discussion TA are involved with the laboratory (other than assimilating that portion of the grade).  More information about the laboratory can be found at Phys263A.  

• Office hours and contact information: my office hours and those of the teaching assistants are listed along with contact information below. In addition, I am available at other times either by appointment or by chance. Please come often -- my door is always open.

  Name	times	room	e-mail	phone
  Prof. Kelly	Tu 10-12	2215-C	jjkelly@physics	5-6110
  David Fiske	M 11-12:30	4205-A	drfiske@physics	5-6028

• Tutoring: additional help with problem solving strategy can be found in the Slawsky clinic, rooms 1208 and 1214. Free tutoring for Physics 263 is provided daily 10-11 a.m. and 12-1 p.m. on a walk-in basis.

Grading

• Honor pledge: please take a moment to review the honor pledge.

• Grade budget: the relative weights of each graded activity are listed below.  Letter grades are based upon the distribution of class scores rather than an absolute scale, with roughly 20% earning A, 30% B, 30% C, and 20% D. No one who completes all required work and makes a reasonable effort will fail the course, but anyone who does not take the final exam or who does not complete all of the labs will receive an F.

  homework	15%
  quizzes	15%
  midterm exams	20%
  final exam	25%
  laboratory	25%

• Homework: the homework score will be a cumulative percentage of correct answers within the allotted number of attempts due the semester.  A perfect score on this component of your grade should require little more than due diligence!

• Quizzes: because an occasional absence might be unavoidable, we will drop your lowest two quiz scores, but it is to your advantage not to miss quizzes unnecessarily.  No make-ups will be offered.

• Exams: there will be three midterm exams during lecture periods plus a comprehensive final exam, as listed on the exam schedule below. All exams will be closed book, but will provide a brief list of useful formulas and constants.  Click here to view the crib sheet. Your best 2 of 3 midterm exams will be used in the grade, but no make-up exams will be offered -- there is no problem if you miss one of the midterm exams, but do not miss two!   Also, you must take the final exam to pass the course!

• Calculators: please bring a standard scientific calculator to all exams and discussions. Your calculator should provide arithmetic, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Programming and plotting functions will not be needed.

• Laboratory: the laboratory grade comes from Physics 263A.  You must complete all of the labs to pass Physics 263!

Lecture Schedule

The following table outlines the reading and lecture schedule. You are advised to read the relevant chapter before lecture so that you are prepared to ask questions. You are responsible for all of the material in each chapter whether or not it is discussed during lecture.  Links to brief solutions of the homework problems and quizzes will be activated after the appropriate due dates.  Some quiz solutions are labeled by section numbers, others are merged into a single file.

Exam Schedule

Other links

Last revised: May 9, 2003