Electricity and Magnetism

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the basic laws that underlie the properties of electric circuit elements
• the use of Ampere's law to calculate magnetic fields
• the use of Coulomb's law and Gauss' law for the electrostatic force
• the use of Faraday's law in induction problems
• the use of the Lorentz force law for the magnetic force
• the relationship between electrostatic field and electrostatic potential

Electric field

• Coulomb's law,
• Superposition principle
• Electric field and electrostatic potential,
• Field patterns and equipotentials,
• Gauss' law,
• Capacitance, conductors and insulators,
• Analogy to gravity

Magnetic field

• Vector product
• Lorentz force
• Ampere's Law
• Electric motors
• Magnetic field patterns
• Magnetic induction (Faraday's law)
• Dynamo
• Mutual and self inductance
• Transformers

Electric circuits

• Ohm's law and resistance.

Teaching and learning methods

The course consists of 24 lectures presenting the basic material using chalk and talk plus powerpoint slides for historical background. There are also12 problem classes allowing hands on problem solving with help on hand. Assessed problems are through Mastering Physics, an online system that provides hints as you progress. The course is also supported by the first year small group tutorial sessions. A mid-term test encourages enagement early in the course.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Randall D. Knight (2004). Physics for Scientists and Engineers: a strategic approach, (extended ed with Mastering Physics). Pearson.

D Halliday, R Resnick and J Walker (2001). Fundamentals of Physics (Extended). John Wiley.

Wolfson (2007). Essential University Physics. Pearsons.

Young and Freedman (2004). University Physics. Pearsons.

Paul A. Tipler and Gene Mosca (2004). Physics for Scientists and Engineers (extended). Freeman.

Assessment strategy

Weekly course work will be set and assessed in the normal way, but only the best ‘n-2’ attempts will contribute to the final coursework mark. Here n = the number of course work items issued during that Semester. As an example, if you are set 10 sets of course work across a Semester, the best 8 of those will be counted.

In an instance where a student may miss submitting one or two sets of course work, those sets will not be counted. Students will however, still be required to submit Self Certification forms on time for all excused absences, as you may ultimately end up missing 3+ sets of course work through illness, for example. The submitted Self Certification forms may be considered as evidence for potential Special Considerations requests.

In the event that a third (or higher) set of course work is missed, students will be required to go through the Special Considerations procedures in order to request mitigation for that set. Please note that documentary evidence will normally be required before these can be considered.

Referral Method: By examination, the final mark will be calculated both with and without the coursework assessment mark carried forward, and the higher result taken.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External