Course Syllabus
Welcome to PHYS102: Introduction to Electromagnetism
Specific information about this course and its requirements can be found below. For more general information about taking Saylor Academy courses, including information about Community and Academic Codes of Conduct, please read the Student Handbook.
Course Description
Explore the physical underpinnings of our universe, the basic principles of physical law, their application to the behavior of objects, and how we use the scientific method to drive advances in knowledge.
Course Introduction
The physics of our universe is dominated by four fundamental forces: gravity, electromagnetism, and weak and strong nuclear forces. These forces control how matter, energy, space, and time interact. For example, when someone sits on a chair, gravitational forces balance with the material forces that "push up" to hold the person in place. This upward push results from electromagnetic forces on microscopic length scales. On the larger stage, gravity holds the celestial bodies in their orbits, but without electromagnetic radiation (light), none of these bodies would be visible to us.
Electromagnetism extends our understanding beyond classical mechanics because it introduces the concept of charge, a property we can observe in macroscopic objects and the smallest building blocks of matter. Electromagnetism is the invisible hand that allows charged objects to interact with each other. It also allows you to take this course: the modern world would be impossible without telecommunications and microelectronics, two of the major applications of electromagnetism.
Scientists began studying electromagnetism in the 18th century. They prepared the groundwork for developments in the 20th century and our modern understanding of atomic structure and the cosmos. In this course, we will learn why electromagnetism is so important for everyday applications and fundamental physics. To put this information into proper context, you should be familiar with the force concept of classical mechanics.
Building on the idea of force, we develop the more abstract concept of fields. This study culminates in Maxwell's theory, which, among other achievements, led to the discovery of radio waves. We begin by discussing waves and oscillations in the more familiar setting of mechanics to review how forces relate to the motion of objects. This preparation will help you understand Maxwell's insights into the nature of electromagnetic radiation as a wave phenomenon.
The term electromagnetism combines two effects we will study separately: electricity and magnetism. We explore electrical measurements and circuits to learn how to observe, quantify, and apply the laws that govern how charges cause static electricity and magnetism. In Maxwell's equations, we will finally unify electric and magnetic effects and discover electromagnetic radiation. This will also put radio waves on the same footing as light: they are the same phenomenon, differing only in their wavelength.
In the final units of this course, we look at optics and Einstein's theory of special relativity. You can think of optics, the science of light, as a practical application of electromagnetism. However, the theory of relativity is an entirely new way of looking at the nature of space and time. This paradigm shift in the foundations of physics was inspired directly by the discoveries at the heart of this course.
This course includes the following units:
- Unit 1: Mechanical Vibrations and Waves in Extended Objects
- Unit 2: Electrostatics
- Unit 3: Electronic Circuit Theory
- Unit 4: Magnetism
- Unit 5: Electromagnetic Induction
- Unit 6: Electromagnetic Waves
- Unit 7: Optics
- Unit 8: Special Relativity
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Analyze situations involving simple harmonic motion;
- Apply Hooke's Law to solve problems involving springs;
- Apply Coulomb's Law to solve problems involving electric charges and fields;
- Apply the formulas for the electric potential and electric potential energy;
- Solve problems involving circuits and the basic components of a circuit (resistor, battery, inductor, and capacitor);
- Solve problems involving magnetic fields of certain objects (permanent magnets, current-carrying wires, wire loops, and solenoids) and Ampere's Law;
- Solve problems involving the motion of a charged particle in electric and magnetic fields;
- Use Faraday's and Lenz's Laws to solve problems involving electromagnetic induction;
- Use Maxwell's equations to explain some of the properties of electromagnetic waves;
- Solve problems involving image formation by the mirrors and lenses and the laws of refraction;
- Explain phenomena caused by the wave nature of light; and
- Explain the postulates and consequences of the special theory of relativity.
Throughout this course, you will also see learning outcomes in each unit. You can use those learning outcomes to help organize your studies and gauge your progress.
Course Materials
This course's primary learning materials are articles, lectures, and videos.
All course materials are free to access and can be found in each unit of the course. Pay close attention to the notes that accompany these course materials, as they will tell you what to focus on in each resource and will help you understand how the learning materials fit into the course as a whole. You can also see a list of all the learning materials in this course at this link.
Some parts of this course may have been created or reviewed with the support of artificial intelligence (AI). To make sure you receive accurate, high-quality, and academically sound learning materials, all AI-assisted content is carefully checked and approved by Saylor Academy's faculty and subject matter experts.
Evaluation and Minimum Passing Score
Only the final exam is considered when awarding you a grade for this course. To pass this course, you will need to earn a grade of 70% or higher on the final exam.
Your score on the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. Be sure to study in between each attempt! If you do not pass the exam, you will not complete this course or receive a certificate of completion. You can attempt the exam as many times as you want.
There are end-of-unit assessments in this course that are designed to help you study and do not factor into your final course grade. You can take them as many times as you want until you understand the concepts they cover.
You can see all of these assessments at this link.
Continuing Education Credits
The certificate earned by passing this self-paced course displays the program hours you completed and continuing education credits (CEUs). CEUs document successful completion of courses that are designed to improve the knowledge and skills of working adults. Many industries value CEUs, and now your certificate reflects them clearly, and they may be used to support career advancement or to meet professional licensing standards. This course contains 4.2 CEUs.
Tips for Success
PHYS102: Introduction to Electromagnetism is a self-paced course, meaning you can decide when to start and complete the course. We estimate the "average" student will take 42 hours to complete. We recommend studying at a comfortable pace and scheduling your study time in advance.
Learning new material can be challenging, so here are a few study strategies to help you succeed:
- Take notes on terms, practices, and theories. This helps you understand each concept in context and provides a refresher for later study.
- Test yourself on what you remember and how well you understand the concepts. Reflecting on what you've learned improves long-term memory retention.
Technical Requirements
This course is delivered entirely online. You will need access to a computer or web-capable mobile device and consistent internet access to view or download resources and complete auto-graded assessments and the final exam.
To access the full course, including assessments and the final exam, log into your Saylor Academy account and enroll in the course. If you don't have an account, you can create one for free here. Note that tracking progress and taking assessments require you to log in.
For more details and guidance, please review our complete Technical Requirements and our student Help Center.
Optional Saylor Academy Mobile App
You can access all course features directly from your mobile browser, but if you have limited internet connectivity, the Saylor Academy mobile app provides an option to download course content for offline use. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
Fees
This course is entirely free to enroll in and access. All course materials, including textbooks, videos, webpages, and activities, are available at no charge. This course also contains a free final exam and a free course completion certificate.