Module Description

PHY2021 Electromagnetism I

2011-2012

Code: PHY2021
Level: 2
Title: Electromagnetism I
Instructors: Prof. M.R. Bate
CATS Credit Value: 15
ECTS Credit Value: 7.5
Pre-requisites: N/A
Co-requisites: N/A
Duration: T1:01-11
Availability: unrestricted
Background Assumed: -

Total Student Study Time

150 hours, to include: 22×1-hour lectures; 44 hours directed self-study; 10 hours of problems class support; 3 hours of tutorial support; 72 hours private study.

Aims

The electromagnetic force holds atoms, molecules and materials together and plays a vital role in our understanding of almost all existing and potential technological developments. Electromagnetism is the second strongest of the four basic interactions of Physics. Its laws, as enunciated by James Clerk Maxwell, enable physicists to comprehend and exploit an enormous range of phenomena.

This module surveys the phenomena associated with electrostatics (charges at rest) and magnetostatics (the magnetic effects associated with steady currents). It introduces and develops the use of the electric and magnetic field vectors and relates them by considering electromagnetic induction at a classical level. The connection between these fields and conventional lumped-circuit parameters R, C and L is also developed.

This module relies on, and develops, student's ability to apply vector analysis. Maxwell's equations in differential form will be developed systematically, starting from the force between two charged particles, thereby building a firm foundation for the study of advanced material in PHY3051.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  1. Module Specific Skills:
    1. define the fields commonly used in electromagnetism, and state the laws these fields obey;
    2. describe the vector nature of the electric field and its relation to a scalar potential;
    3. calculate the electric field due to static charges and charge distributions, using Coulomb's law or Gauss's law as appropriate and to relate this to the electrostatic energy of the system;
    4. describe the vector nature of a static magnetic field and its relation to a vector potential;
    5. calculate the magnetic fields, using the Biot-Savart law or Ampère's law as appropriate for circuits and steady current distributions;
    6. calculate the electric and/or magnetic forces acting on quasistatic systems;
    7. state the differential and integral forms of the vector laws of electromagnetism and use them to solve a range of problems;
    8. relate the electric and magnetic field vectors in circumstances where Faraday's law is valid, solve related problems, give examples of practical applications;
    9. relate the circuit parameters to the fields and the energy of those fields; know the features of transient response for circuit parameters in simple circuits;
    10. state Maxwell's equations and explain how they can be related to the force between two particles;
    11. use vector analysis to apply Maxwell's equations and solve standard problems.
  2. Discipline Specific Skills:
    1. apply principles of electromagnetism to a range of practical applications;
    2. use symmetry to reduce the number of variables in a problem.
  3. Personal Transferable Skills:
    1. use a range of resources to develop an understanding of topics through independent study;
    2. meet deadlines for completion of work for problems classes and develop appropriate time-management strategies.

Learning / Teaching Methods

Lectures, e-Learning resources (ELE PHY2021), and problems classes.

Assessment and Assignments

ContributionAssessment/AssignmentSize (duration/length)When
10%Problem Sets8×2hrsWeekly
15%Mid-term Test30 minutesWeek T1:06
75%Final examination120 minutesWeek T2:00
FormativeGuided self-study5×6-hour packagesFortnightly

Syllabus Plan and Content

  1. Introduction
    1. Brief historical survey
  2. Revision of Vector Analysis
    1. Transformation properties
    2. Gradient of a scalar field
    3. Vector properties of the 'Del' operator
    4. Divergence of a vector field
    5. Curl of a vector field and Stokes's theorem
    6. Curvilinear coordinate systems
  3. Fields
    1. The force between two charged particles
    2. Definition and properties of E
    3. Interpretation of divergence; the continuity equation
    4. Flux and the divergence theorem
    5. Charge distribution and Gauss's law
    6. Electrostatic potentials
  4. Electrostatic Fields in Matter
    1. Simple electric dipole
    2. Multipole distributions
    3. Capacitors
    4. Electric permitivity (constant)
    5. Polarisation P and displacement D in linear dielectric media
    6. Surface and volume polarization
    7. Boundary conditions for electric fields
    8. Energy density of the electrostatic field
  5. Electrostatic Systems
    1. Laplaces's and Poisson's equations
    2. General properties of solutions to Laplaces's equation
    3. Analytic solutions to Laplace's equation in special cases
    4. Solutions to single-variable problems
    5. Solutions to two-variable problems
    6. Electrostatic images
  6. Magnetostatic Fields in Matter
    1. Definition and properties of B
    2. Ampère's law
    3. Magnetic vector potential A
    4. Faraday-Lenz law
    5. Magnetic permeability (constant)
    6. Magnetisation M and Magnetic-field intensity H in linear magnetic media
    7. Boundary conditions for macroscopic magnetic fields
    8. Energy density of magnetic field
  7. Electromagnetic Systems
    1. Steady currents in the presence of magnetic materials
    2. Forces in magnetic fields
    3. Electromagnetic induction for stationary magnetic media
    4. Inductors and transformers
    5. Faraday's law
    6. Measurement of susceptibilities
  8. Conclusions
    1. Maxwell's equations
    2. Energy density of an electromagnetic field
    3. The Poynting vector
    4. Summary

Core Text

Griffiths D.J. (1999), Introduction to Electrodynamics (3rd edition), Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-805326-X (UL: 537 GRI)

Supplementary Text(s)

Good R.H. (1999), Classical Electromagnetism, Saunders College Publishing, ISBN 0-03-022353-9 (UL: 537 GOO)
Lorrain P., Corson D.R. and Lorrain F. (1987), Electromagnetic Fields and Waves (3rd edition), Freeman, ISBN 0-716-71869-3 (UL: 530.141 LOR)
Reitz J.R., Milford F.J. and Christy R.W. (1993), Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory (4th edition), Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-201-52624-7 (UL: 530.141 REI)

IOP Accreditation Compliance Checklist

Formative Mechanisms

The problems that students are set on this module are marked and discussed in detail in the problems classes and in tutorials. Students monitor their own progress by attempting the problems set. Students who need additional guidance are encouraged to discuss the matter with their tutor or the lecturer.

Evaluation Mechanisms

The module will be evaluated using information gathered via the student representation mechanisms, the staff peer appraisal scheme, and measures of student attainment based on summative assessment.

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