General Physics 2 (past years) — Sho Iwamoto / NSYSU

This page contains past lectures’ information. For this year, see another page.

Old Documents

2022 Spring Semester

Basic electromagnetism in vacuum (i.e., not in matter). The goal is Maxwell’s equations, which contain the laws of electromagnetism and are written in the language “vector calculus.”

You begin with basic vector calculus: vectors, differentials, and integrals. You learn various laws of electromagnetism, where you use (and get accustomed to) vector calculus. You also get used to fields, the most important concept in electromagnetism (and even in modern physics). Finally, you learn Maxwell’s equations, the monumental achievement in 19th-century physics. You notice that the equations contain the electromagnetic laws you have learned. In parallel, you learn about electric circuits: properties of their components and methods to analyze them.

Topics that are not covered (or covered only partially) in this course include: electromagnetic fields in matter, vector calculus in cylindrical/spherical coordinates, and the differential formulation of Maxwell’s equations.

I am familiar with basic vector calculus; I can integrate vectors in Cartesian coordinate system.
I can describe/calculate electromagnetic forces between charged objects or electric currents.
I am used to dealing with fields (electric field $\vec E$ and magnetic flux density $\vec B$ ).
I can use various laws of electromagnetism to calculate forces or fields in simple situations.
I can explain Maxwell’s equations and their relations to electromagnetic laws.
I can calculate currents or voltages in direct-current and alternating-current circuits.

150 min lecture for 18 weeks.

1 (Feb. 16): Basic calculus. Coulomb's law.
2 (Feb. 23): Vector calculus. Electric field $\vec E$. Gauss's law.
3 (Mar. 2): Gauss's law. Electric potential.
4 (Mar. 9): Electric potential.
5 (Mar. 16): Electric dipole. Capacitor.
6 (Mar. 23): Capacitor. Resistor. Current.
7 (Mar. 30): Resistor. Basic DC circuits.
8 (Apr. 6): Midterm exam
9 (Apr. 13): Review of exam. Magnetic field $\vec B$. Lorentz force.
10 (Apr. 20): Biot-Savart law.
11 (Apr. 27): Ampère’s law. Magnetism.
12 (May 4): Faraday’s law. Motional emf.
13 (May 11): Inductance. Electromagnetic wave. Basic AC circuits.
14 (May 18): Review of mathematical concepts.
15 (May 25): Review of electromagnetism concepts.
16 (Jun. 1): Term exam
17 (Jun. 8): (Flexible learning week) Review of exam.
18 (Jun. 15): (Flexible learning week) Modern physics.

2023 Spring Semester

An introductory course to wave mechanics and electromagnetism. The goal is Maxwell’s equations (in integral form), which encapsulate the laws of electromagnetism. Additionally, we explore the nature of light, deriving its properties as an electromagnetic wave from Maxwell’s equations and understanding it as a classical wave phenomenon.

You are required to have a foundational understanding of mechanics, calculus, and the application of vectors. Based on this knowledge, you first learn oscillations and waves: its mathematical description. You then step into electromagnetism. You get used to the concept of fields, which is the most crucial in electromagnetism (and even in modern physics), and learn various laws of electromagnetism. Finally, you learn Maxwell’s equations, the monumental achievement in 19th-century physics. You notice that the equations contain not only the electromagnetic laws you have learned but also the electromagnetic waves, known as lights.

Several important topics are not covered in this lecture, which include electric circuits, electromagnetic fields in matter, vector calculus in cylindrical/spherical coordinates, and the differential formulation of Maxwell’s equations.

I am familiar with line integrals and surface integrals of vectors.
I can express waves by trigonometric functions and analyze them using calculus techniques.
I can describe/calculate electromagnetic forces between charged objects or electric currents.
I am used to dealing with fields (electric field $\vec E$ and magnetic flux density $\vec B$ ).
I can analyze electric potential and relate it to work and potential energy.
I can use various laws of electromagnetism to calculate forces or fields in simple situations.
I can explain Maxwell’s equations and their relations to electromagnetic laws.

150 min lecture for 18 weeks.

1 (Feb. 21): Wave and its motion.
2 (Feb. 28): Peace Memorial Day (no class)
3 (Mar. 6): Superposition of waves.
4 (Mar. 13): NSYSU Sports Day (no class)
5 (Mar. 20): Coulomb's law. Gauss's Law.
6 (Mar. 27): Gauss's law. Electric potential.
7 (Apr. 3): Electric potential.
8 (Apr. 10): Midterm exam
9 (Apr. 17): Electric dipole. Capacitor.
10 (Apr. 24): Electric current. Power.
11 (May 1): Magnetic flux density. Lorentz force.
12 (May 8): Biot-Savart law. Ampère's law. Magnetism.
13 (May 15): Faraday's law.
14 (May 22): Inductance.
15 (May 29): Lorentz's equations. Light.
16 (Jun. 5): Term exam
17 (Jun. 12): Flexible learning week (no class), compensating for the duty of essays.
18 (Jun. 19): Exam review. Modern particle physics. Topics requested by students.