Electricity and Magnetism II
30
Lessons
13
Videos
PHYS421
PREREQUISITE
1h:15m
Duration
English
Language
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Overview
Course Description:
This course continues the development of classical electrodynamics, follow-up of the autumn course of PHYS421, focusing on the interaction of electromagnetic fields with matter, time-dependent phenomena, and radiation. Topics include magnetisation in materials, microscopic origins of dia-, para-, and ferromagnetism, bound currents, and the formulation of magnetic fields in linear and nonlinear media. The course then develops the full framework of electrodynamics, covering electromotive force, electromagnetic induction, and the complete set of Maxwell’s equations in vacuum and matter, together with their boundary conditions and physical interpretation. Conservation laws for charge, energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum are examined, emphasising the role of fields as carriers of energy and momentum. The second half of the course is devoted to electromagnetic waves, including propagation in vacuum and media, reflection and transmission, dispersion and absorption, and guided-wave structures such as waveguides and transmission lines. The formulation of electrodynamics in terms of scalar and vector potentials, gauge freedom, retarded potentials, and fields of moving charges is introduced, culminating in a detailed treatment of electromagnetic radiation from dipoles and accelerated charges, including radiation reaction. The course emphasises rigorous mathematical reasoning, physical insight, and problem-solving skills, providing a foundation for advanced study in optics, photonics, plasma physics, and modern electromagnetic theory.
COMPLETING THIS COURSE WILL HELP YOU:
Why Electrodynamics?
- Description of magnetization in materials, including microscopic origins of dia-, para-, and ferromagnetism, bound currents, and the formulation of magnetic fields in linear and nonlinear media using the auxiliary field H.
- Formulate and interpret Maxwell’s equations in differential and integral form
- Development of charge, energy, and momentum conservation in electrodynamics, clarifying how electromagnetic fields store, transport, and exchange energy and momentum with matter.
- Analysis of electromagnetic wave propagation in vacuum and matter, including energy and momentum transport, reflection and transmission, dispersion, and guided-wave structures.
- Formulation of time-dependent electromagnetism using scalar and vector potentials, gauge freedom, and retarded solutions for continuous and point-charge sources.
- Physical origin and quantitative description of electromagnetic radiation from accelerating charges, including dipole radiation, radiated power, and radiation reaction.
Electrodynamics is one of the most elegant and powerful frameworks in physics, bringing electricity, magnetism, and light together within a single theory. This course builds on the study of static electric and magnetic fields and develops the full dynamical description of classical electromagnetism, with a focus on time-dependent phenomena, electromagnetic waves, and radiation.
We begin by exploring magnetic fields in matter, developing both microscopic and macroscopic perspectives on magnetisation, bound currents, and the behaviour of linear and nonlinear media. These ideas naturally lead to electrodynamics proper, including electromotive force, electromagnetic induction, and the complete set of Maxwell’s equations in vacuum and in matter. Emphasis is placed on their physical interpretation, boundary conditions, and the role of electromagnetic fields in storing and transporting energy and momentum. The course then examines conservation laws in electrodynamics, highlighting how fields carry energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum. Building on this foundation, we study electromagnetic waves, covering propagation in vacuum and media, reflection and transmission at interfaces, dispersion, absorption, and guided-wave systems such as waveguides and transmission lines.
In the final part of the course, we introduce the potential formulation of electrodynamics, including gauge freedom, retarded potentials, and the fields of moving charges, culminating in a detailed discussion of electromagnetic radiation from dipoles and accelerated charges. Throughout the course, we emphasise the connection between mathematical formalism and physical understanding, while developing problem-solving skills relevant to real electromagnetic systems. By the end of the semester, students will have a strong grasp of Maxwell’s theory in its dynamical form and will be well prepared for advanced study in electromagnetism, optics, and related areas.
MAIN TEXTBOOK
The course will be based on Introduction to Electrodynamics (4th Edition), David J. Griffiths, Addison-Wesley, 2012 (ISBN: 978-0321856562). Chapters 6,7,8,9,10, and 11 of the book will be covered in the spring semester.
Learning Path
Description of magnetisation in materials, including microscopic origins of dia-, para-, and ferromagnetism, bound currents, and the formulation of magnetic fields in linear and nonlinear media using the auxiliary field H.
Video 2h:02m NOTE (PDF)
Introduction to time-dependent electromagnetic phenomena, including electromotive force and induction, culminating in Maxwell’s equations in vacuum and matter and their boundary conditions.
Video 2h:11m NOTE (PDF)
Development of charge, energy, and momentum conservation in electrodynamics, clarifying how electromagnetic fields store, transport, and exchange energy and momentum with matter.
Video 2h:11m NOTE (PDF)
Analysis of electromagnetic wave propagation in vacuum and matter, including energy and momentum transport, reflection and transmission, dispersion, and guided-wave structures.
Video 2h:11m NOTE (PDF)
