PHYSICS 122: ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY

 

Offered each SPRING semester.

 

Teacher: Athanasios Petridis

                Harvey Ingham 31C

                Phone: (515) 271-3723

                E-Mail: Athan.Petridis@drake.edu

 

Class Schedule: MWF, 11:30 am – 12:40 pm.

Textbook: “Introduction to Electrodynamics” by D. Griffiths (Prentice Hall, 3rd edition).

Homework: 1 assignment per week (25 points total).

Exams: 3 exams during the semester (15 points each),

              1 non-comprehensive final (15 points).

Exams:One 5-minute written question at the beginning of each class (15 points total).

Grading:    100 <=  points  <= 85  is  A

                     85 <    points  <= 75  is  B

                     75 <    points  <= 65  is  C

                     65 <    points  <= 50  is  D

                     50 <    points  <=   0  is  F

The above scale is used only as a guide. The final letter grade is assigned according to the instructor’s opinion of the student. No extra-credit assignments are offered during or at the end of the semester.

 

The following topics are covered in the course (the list is neither inclusive or exclusive and may change from year to year or during the semester according to instructor’s view or to match student interests):

 

  1. Vector and Tensor Analysis (vector algebra, differential calculus, integral calculus, curvilinear coordinates, the delta-function, translations and rotations, symmetries and SO(n) groups, tensors and index conventions, theory of vector fields and the Helmholtz theorem).
  2. Electrostatics (the electric field, Coulomb’s law and applications, divergence and curl of electrostatic fields, Gauss’ law and applications, the electric potential, work and energy in electrostatics, conductors and capacitors).
  3. Special Techniques (Laplace’s equation, the method of images, separation of variables in Cartesian and curvilinear coordinates, Fourier analysis and boundary value problems, the relaxation method and numerical computing of the electrostatic potential, multipole expansion, the electric field of a dipole).
  4. Electric Fields in Matter (polarization and dielectrics, the field of a polarized object, the electric displacement, linear dielectrics, forces on dielectrics, boundary value problems with dielectrics).
  5. Magnetostatics (the Lorentz force, the Biot-Savart law and applications, the divergence and curl of static magnetic fields, Ampere’s law and applications, the magnetic vector potential, case studies).
  6. Magnetization (diamagnetism, paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, torques and forces on magnetic dipoles, the field of a magnetized object, bound currents, the auxiliary field, boundary conditions, linear and non-linear media).
  7. Electrodynamics (electromotive force, Ohm’s law, motional electromotive force, electromagnetic induction and Faraday’s law, inductance, self and mutual inductance, Ampere’s law for time-dependent currents, Maxwell’s equations in integral and differential form, boundary conditions, the continuity equation, the electromagnetic wave equation, gauge transformations and gauge symmetry).

 

NOTE: The second part of this course, including a detailed study of time-dependent problems with Maxwell’s equation is given within the “Advanced Classical Physics” course.