Physics 211 (Intermediate E&M) ----- 5-615pm, TTh ----- Phillips 222

Phys211 is required in some physics degrees, but of course, all who are interested in learning about electricity & magnetism and electrical circuits are welcome.

Sean Washburn,          sean@physics.unc.edu,                 Office 351 Chapman
Office hours: (Most) Fridays 10-11am, (but stop by or email for an appt, if you need it)

Suggested Text: I will be teaching from Electicity & Magnetism (EM Purcell & DJ Morin). This book has minor errata.
Note: You may choose a different book, but topics order, depth, and content vary dramatically.
Other useful resources: Feynman Lectures II (Feynman ...), Introduction to electrodynamics (Griffiths), Electromagnetic fields (Wangsness, Electrodynamics and Optics Demtröder, ...

First half of a series of excruciatingly detailed video lectures that cover similar course material are here.

Exams: about 4 problems on midterms; closed book but open notes (anything hand written) and approved calculators (not needed usually)
Grades: approximately 10-20% hw problems (feel free to work in groups to solve these problems), 80-90% exams (2 midterms and cummulative final).


Before we start, here is a sure strategy to get the best grade possible -- it never fails:

  1. Read the book and lecture slides before class.
  2. Do all the problems you can find. If you don't understand the concepts, doing problems will help to clarify them.
  3. Do problems from other books, too. Schaum's Outlines are helpful resources.
  4. Once you understand the important concepts, think about the ways the equations represent them and can be manipulated.
  5. Think about the over-all structure of the concepts in the chapter: see the big picture.

A longer version of the same strategy, which is part three of a good essay on how to think about your education and professional career.

Although the material is challenging and the pace of the course is fast, my intent is that you all pass with good grades. So if you feel a little overwhelmed, please ask me or some trusted and knowledgeable source for help. In my case you have already paid for the help, so make sure to get your money's worth.


Mathematical skills that are useful:
Second order ordinary differential equations, PDEs, & vector calculus.
(All will be introduced as practical skills as needed with no background, so don't worry if you are not expert already.)

Step-by-step to success:

1- Read the entire problem. Now, read it again.
2- Choose coördinates based on symmetries (easier math later)
3- Symmetries also indicate directions of field vectors
4- Look for symmetries/Gauss's law/... avoid messy integration
5- Solve first with "physical sense". Do the math if need be but be efficient
6- Write magnitudes and directions for all vectors
7- Don't be afraid of expansions or approximations
8- Make self-consistent approximations (keep the same order of accuracy in each term at first)


Syllabus and schedule,



Physics and Astronomy | University of North Carolina
Faculty | Undergraduate | Graduate | Research | PANIC | News | Directory | Contact