Welcome to Physics 220
What will we study?
Electricity and Magnetism
Why?
To Graduate
Course Website
http://www.physics.byu.edu/faculty/rees/220
Note three things in particular:
1. Course Outline
2. Class Schedule
3. PPT Slides
Course Objectives
The official course objectives are:
1. Solve problems and answer conceptual questions involving
electromagnetic energy (potential), forces, and the motion
of charged particles and dipoles.
2. Use Maxwell's equations to find electric and magnetic
fields in symmetric arrangements of static charges and
steady currents. Also find electric and magnetic fields by
integrating over charge and current densities.
3. Analyze simple direct current and alternating current
circuits of resistors, inductors, capacitors and power
supplies.
4. Use Maxwell's equations to solve problems and answer
conceptual questions with changing electric and magnetic
fields, including induction and electromagnetic radiation.
Course Objectives
By the end of the semester, you should:
1. think more like a physicist; that is, be able to interpret
the world around you in terms of abstract models.
2. have a greater appreciation of the beauty and
symmetry of physical law.
3. understand the fundamentals of DC and AC electrical
circuits.
4. be able to describe several applications of
electromagnetic theory to real-world devices.
5. be able to explain how electrical and magnetic
phenomena can be understood in terms of the thread
model and in terms of the field model.
Course Objectives
By the end of the semester, you should:
6. be able to write down the integral and differential
forms of Maxwell’s Equations and explain what each
equation means.
7. be able to find the electric and magnetic fields of a
few fundamental configurations of stationary and
moving charges.
8. be able to explain what electromagnetic radiation is,
what causes it, and why it is important in our society.
Is Physics 220 difficult?
There are many concepts.
Many concepts are abstract.
Many concepts are interrelated.
There’s a lot of calculus –
but we’ll review calculus as we need it.
How much time will it take?
Plan on at least 2 hours outside of class
for each hour in class.
What’s the difference between
Section 1 and Section 2?
They’re the same…
• You can attend either section as you wish
• Clicker quizzes taken in either section will
count.
Will I get a good grade?
Percentiles Letter Grade
85 – 100
A
67 – 85
A–
50 – 67
B+
36 – 50
B
22 – 36
B–
14 – 22
C+
10 – 14
C
Most students who put forth a genuine
effort will do reasonably well.
Will I get a good grade?
A word of warning:
Some students do not receive as good a
grade as they are used to, even if they
work hard.
What work is required?
Item
Full Credit at
Weight
classroom exercises
75%
5%
walk-in labs
80%
5%
homework
85%
10%
mastery checks
5%
quizzes
15%
midterm exams (two)
40%
final exam
20%
Classroom Exercises
Quizzes in class with clickers.
2/3 participation.
1/3 correct answers.
Clicker quizzes will start counting next
Monday!
Walk-in Labs
Once a week in S-415 ESC.
See the schedule.
Beware of Saturdays!
First lab is next week.
Homework
Submitted online
Interactive
Immediate feedback
Due every Thursday at 11:55 p.m.
Printable versions are available
Tutorial Lab is in N-304 ESC
Mastery Checks
Submitted online
Similar to quiz and test problems
Open book
Some helps available
Helps you identify weaknesses and
misconceptions
Due Saturday at 11:55 p.m.
Quizzes
Submitted online
Similar to test problems
Closed book
Please don’t discuss questions!
Due Saturday at 11:55 p.m.
Basic Tests
Practice Basic Tests
• No credit
• 30-40 questions
• Covers basic concepts
• Single concept, simple questions
• Take as often as you’d like
Basic Tests
Basic Tests
• No direct credit
• 10 questions randomly chosen
from the Practice Basic Test
• No books, notes, web materials!
• Timed
• “Pass” if 9-10 are correct
• Can be retaken as often as you
wish
Mid-term Exams
In the Testing Center
Note the closing time is 4 pm!
Problems similar to mastery checks
and quizzes.
All multiple choice.
There are no late days.
Mid-term Exams
Basic Section (30% of points)
- Take only if you do not pass
the Basic Test first
- Consists of selected Basic
Questions in multiple choice
format
- 10 problems
Standard Section (70% of points)
- Harder problems!
- 23 problems
Final Exam
In Testing Center
Two parts:
1) One part like mid-terms; covers
last material
2) One part comprehensive;
short, multiple choice problems
based on Basic Tests
Score Adjustments
Purpose: I give credit for Homework and
Classroom Exercises as an incentive for you to
do them. Most students receive nearly full credit
for them.
But these scores are not very good for
evaluation.
Score Adjustments
Scores are calculated 4 different ways:
1. Regular method
or …
Lowest test weight is 10% less, other tests
5% more each and
2. Tests only scored
3. 2 + Quizzes and Mastery Checks scored
4. 3 + HW scored
5. 4 + Labs and Clickers scored
Score Adjustments
• Percentile is the highest percentile of
methods 2-5.
Tutorial Lab
• Primarily for homework help
• Tutors can help you with general
questions as well
• N-304 ESC
• Open most hours through the day
• Look for Physics 220 tutors
What do I do now?
Obtain your password
Read the course outline
Register your clicker
Check the schedule for upcoming work
Do the reading assignment
Do the sample homework assignment