Syllabus — PHYS7021

Official syllabus of PHYS7021 Electricity, Magnetism and Wave Optics (Minor-VII, Sem VII) — 45 theory hours, marks distribution, and PYQ weightage stars 1–10 per unit.

Reproduced from the official University syllabus for MINOR-VII: PHYS7021, unit by unit with the official hour allocation. Each unit also carries a PYQ-weightage rating (★1–10) computed from how often the unit's topics appeared in the 2018–2024 past papers — so you know exactly where the marks come from.

MINOR-PHYSICS COURSE · Semester VII
MINOR-VII: PHYS7021 — Electricity, Magnetism and Wave Optics
Credits: Theory-03, Practicals-01
F.M. = 75 (Theory − 40, Practical − 20, Internal Assessment − 15)
Internal Assessment: Class Attendance (Theory) − 05 · Theory (Class Test / Assignment / Tutorial) − 05 · Practical (Sessional Viva-voce) − 05

Course objective. To provide an in-depth understanding of the principles of Electricity, Magnetism and waves, and to apply them to solve problems related to Electricity and Magnetism.

Theory: 45 Hours

Unit 1 · Electrostatics★★★★★★★★★★9 Hours

Electrostatic field, electric flux, Gauss's theorem of electrostatics. Applications of Gauss theorem — electric field due to point charge, infinite line of charge, uniformly charged spherical shell and solid sphere, plane charged sheet, charged conductor. 3 Hours

Electric potential as line integral of electric field, potential due to a point charge, electric dipole, uniformly charged spherical shell and solid sphere. Calculation of electric field from potential. 3 Hours

Capacitance of an isolated spherical conductor. Parallel plate, spherical and cylindrical condenser. Energy per unit volume in electrostatic field. Dielectric medium, polarization, displacement vector. Gauss's theorem in dielectrics. Parallel plate capacitor completely filled with dielectric. 3 Hours

Notes: Overview · Gauss law · Fields by Gauss · Potential & dipole · Capacitors · Dielectrics

Unit 2 · Magnetostatics★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆4 Hours

Biot-Savart's law and its applications — straight conductor, circular coil, solenoid carrying current. Divergence and curl of magnetic field. Magnetic vector potential. Ampere's circuital law. 4 Hours

Notes: Overview · Biot–Savart · Ampere & ∇·B

Unit 3 · Electromagnetic Induction★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆3 Hours

Faraday's laws of electromagnetic induction, Lenz's law, self and mutual inductance, L of single coil, M of two coils. Energy stored in magnetic field. 3 Hours

Notes: Overview · Faraday & Lenz · L, M, energy

Unit 4 · Maxwell's Equations★★★★★★★☆☆☆5 Hours

Equation of continuity of current, displacement current, Maxwell's equations, Poynting vector, energy density in electromagnetic field, electromagnetic wave propagation through vacuum and isotropic dielectric medium, transverse nature of EM waves, polarization. 5 Hours

Notes: Overview · Equations & wave eqn · Poynting & numerics

Unit 5 · Superposition of Two Collinear Harmonic Oscillations★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆2 Hours

Linearity and superposition principle. (1) Oscillations having equal frequencies and (2) oscillations having different frequencies (Beats). 2 Hours

Notes: Beats

Unit 6 · Superposition of Two Perpendicular Harmonic Oscillations★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆3 Hours

Graphical and analytical methods. Lissajous figures with equal and unequal frequency and their uses. 3 Hours

Notes: Lissajous

Unit 7 · Wave Optics: Huygens★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆2 Hours

Electromagnetic nature of light. Definition and properties of wavefront. Huygens principle. 2 Hours

Notes: Huygens

Unit 8 · Interference★★★★★★★★★★7 Hours

Interference: division of amplitude and division of wavefront. Young's double slit experiment. Lloyd's mirror and Fresnel's biprism. Phase change on reflection: Stokes' treatment. Interference in thin films: parallel and wedge-shaped films. Fringes of equal inclination (Haidinger fringes); fringes of equal thickness (Fizeau fringes). Newton's rings: measurement of wavelength and refractive index. 7 Hours

Notes: Overview · YDSE & energy · Newton rings · Biprism

Unit 9 · Diffraction★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆5 Hours

Fresnel diffraction: half-period zones. Zone plate. Fresnel diffraction pattern of a straight edge, a slit and a wire using half-period zone analysis. Fraunhofer diffraction: single slit; double slit. Multiple slits & diffraction grating. 5 Hours

Notes: Zone plate & grating

Unit 10 · Polarization★★★★☆☆☆☆☆☆— Hours

Transverse nature of light waves. Plane polarized light — production and analysis. Circular and elliptical polarization.

Notes: Full chapter

How to read the ★ ratings

★1–10 PYQ weightage. Each unit is rated by how often its topics were asked in the 2018–2024 past papers (counting every appearance, including repeats). ★10 = asked almost every paper (Electrostatics — Gauss theorem alone is ×4); ★2 = rare but not absent. Ratings guide revision order, not syllabus importance — the examiner can ask anything above.

References. Brij Lal & N. Subrahmanyam — Electricity & Magnetism (S. Chand); Brij Lal, Subrahmanyam & M.N. Avadhanulu — A Textbook of Optics; N. Subrahmanyam & Brij Lal — Waves & Oscillations.