Electricity & Magnetism
Electricity and Magnetism The physical principles of electricity and magnetism are developed with calculus and applied to the electrical structure of matter and the electromagnetic nature of light. Practical topics from electricity and magnetism include voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, inductance, and AC and DC circuits. Laboratory work includes an introduction to electronics and to important instruments such as the oscilloscope.
Noah Graham is a very engaging lecturer, which made it easy to learn the material. There's a lot of homework (3 problem sets each week) but no more than other intro physics classes. The homework is very similar to exams, so it's important to keep up with the pace of the class.
This class was no doubt a grind but the information was very interesting and Graham is very good at explaining the content. The only issue is that Graham is very very strict with deadlines so do not turn anything in late because you will get a zero. This class is manageable if you are comfortable with math and can stay on top of your work.
From my experience, Graham is one of the better professors in the department. While he's an incredibly lively and passionate professor, I wouldn't say his teaching style is the best. If you are interested in the physics major, I'd highly recommend taking this course as early as possible, as I think it gives you the best sense of what further courses will be like. The course is very tough, with long problem sets three times a week, but manageable if you have the time to dedicate.
From my experience, Graham is one of the better professors in the department. While he's an incredibly lively and passionate professor, I wouldn't say his teaching style is the best. If you are interested in the physics major, I'd highly recommend taking this course as early as possible, as I think it gives you the best sense of what …Read more
This course was what convinced me to major in physics. Professor Grahams enthusiasm is unmatched by any prof. I've had at Middlebury so far. I would love to take more classes with him in the future. Keep in mind that this course assigns a TON of homework. Beware.
It was a struggle throughout the entire semester. Spending so many hours on homework problems to the point where it only counts for about 5–10% of the final grade was not worth it. The exams are 83%+ of the entire grade. So focusing on understanding the material would have been more helpful than giving us a bunch of hard questions and expecting us to "learn" while doing the problems. We only have so many hours in a week to learn at our own pace while also finishing up all of the assignments.
It was a struggle throughout the entire semester. Spending so many hours on homework problems to the point where it only counts for about 5–10% of the final grade was not worth it. The exams are 83%+ of the entire grade. So focusing on understanding the material would have been more helpful than giving us a bunch of hard questions an …Read more
Prof Watson is very enthusiastic about the material but her lectures are too fast paced. She solves complex math equations without explanation assuming that the students know how to do it. The exams are very hard since they cover ideas not seen in class. Even though the material was very interesting, it was hard to engage given the fast-paced and complex nature of the course.
Concepts are a bit difficult to grasp if you lack physics experiences, I took AP physics so was definitely alright. He grading of homework/exams is a bit nit picky but good to help you establish good habits. I really enjoyed lab with Prof. Findlay though.
The professor was very intelligent but not super helpful in office hours in terms of rephrasing or walking through problems. He didn’t often respect my drc accommodations which made it quite difficult for me to well in the course.