29::213 Classical Electrodynamics I
Fall  Semester 2011


The main textbook is  J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics; 3rd Edition, Wiley (JDJ hereafter).
Complementary material is provided in H. Ohanian, Classical Electrodynamics; 2d Edition,
Infinity Science Press (HOH hereafter).


PS: Problem Set

Week	Assignment
1	Readings: JDJ Ch: 1 sections 1-7 Optional Readings: HOH Ch. 1 PS 1 (due next Wednesday 8/31 before class) Derive the first 8 vector formulas in JDJ (back of cover page) Derive the div, grad, curl and Laplacian in cylindrical coordinates JDJ problems: 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4.
2	Readings: JDJ Ch: 1 sections 8-13 Optional Readings: HOH Ch. 2 PS 2 (due next Wednesday 9/7 before class) Derive the div, grad, curl and Laplacian in spherical coordinates JDJ problems: 1.6, 1.7, 1.12 and 1.13
3	Readings: JDJ Ch: 2 sections 1-7 Optional Readings: HOH Ch. 3 sections 1-3 PS 3 (due next Wednesday 9/14 before class) JDJ problems: 1.22,  2.1, 2.2, 2.4 and 2.7
4	Readings: JDJ Ch: 2 sections 8-12 PS 4 (due next Wednesday 9/21 before class) JDJ problems: 2.9, 2.11, 2.12 and 2.13 Comparison of Fourier expansions Eq. (2.59) for Phi(x,0)=x*(a-x) with a numerical solution with the relaxation methods dicussed in problem 1.23. Is the improved average much of an improvement? see notebook for an example.  You can use this mathematica tutorial to get started
5	Readings: JDJ Ch: 3 sections 1-6 Optional Readings: HOH Ch. 3 sections 4-5 PS 5 (due next Wednesday 9/28 before class) Derive Eq. 2.81 in JDJ JDJ problems: 2.23, 2.26,  3.1, 3.2
6	Readings: JDJ Ch: 3 sections 7-13 Midterm 1 on October 5
7	Readings: JDJ Ch: 4 sections 1-4 Optional Readings: HOH Ch. 4 PS 6 (due next Wednesday 10/12 before class; a more precise formulation of the problems has been handed in class) Using complex variables methods, discuss the precise shape of the equipotential lines and field lines near a 90 degree corner (second case in Fig. 2.13 of JDJ).  Check that the infinitesimal generators of rotations defined in class satisfy the usual commutation relations and that the sum of their squares is minus the angular differential operator appearing in the Laplacian in spherical coordinates; Calculate the Y_3m.  Using the generating function for the Legendre polynomials, prove (3.21) in JDJ. JDJ problems Ch. 3: 3 and 5.
8	Readings: JDJ Ch: 4 sections 5-7 PS 7 (due next Wednesday 10/19 before class) JDJ problems Ch. 3: 6,  9, 10, 13 ; Ch. 4: 1
9	Readings: JDJ Ch: 5 sections 1-5 PS 8 (due Friday 10/28 before class) JDJ problems Ch. 4: 3, 8, 10 and 13; Ch. 5: 1
10	Readings: JDJ Ch: 5 sections 6-11 PS 9 (due  Friday 11/4 before class) JDJ problems Ch. 5: 2, 3, 6, 13 and 15
11	Readings: JDJ Ch: 5 sections 12-18 PS 10 (due  Monday 11/14 before class) JDJ problems Ch. 5:  19, 22, 35
12	Readings: JDJ Ch: 6 sections 1-5 midterm 2 (11/16)
13	Happy Thanksgiving!
14	Readings: JDJ Ch: 6 sections 7-12 PS 11 (due Wednesday 11/30 before class) JDJ Ch. 6: 1, 2, 5
15	PS 12 (due Wednesday 12/7 before class) JDJ Ch. 6: 12, 14, 18 and 19