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In this course, we will be setting the foundation for your understanding of Maxwell’s
equations which include Gauss’ Law, Faraday’s Law, Ampere’s Law (with Maxwell’s correction),
and the “no magnetic monopole” law, as well as the equations of continuity and the Lorentz force law.
Together, these tools will allow you to solve many problems in electro- and magnetostatics
and electrodynamics. But the conceptual understanding of the principles underlying these
formulations is best achieved through their rigorous application in problem solving. As a
necessary prerequisite to this end, you must have a good working knowledge of vector analysis
including vector algebra, differential calculus (including gradient, divergence, curl, and
product rules), integral calculus (including line, surface, and volume integrals), curvilinear
coordinate systems (e.g. spherical and cylindrical coordinates), and the Helmholtz theorem.
We will do a quick review of these at the beginning of the semester but it is intended as a
review, not an introduction of the material. We will then discuss electrostatics in free
space (Chapter 2) and in conductors. Application of electrostatic concepts discussed in
Chapter 2 can be quite difficult, even for geometrically symmetric systems, so in Chapter
3 we focus on special techniques for problem solving including solutions to Laplace’s and
Poisson’s equations, the method of images, separation of variables and multipole expansion.
We will then dive into magnetostatics and discuss the Biot-Savart Law and the magnetic vector
potential in Chapter 5. This will enable us to launch into electrodynamics (Chapter 7) and
to write down Maxwell’s equations in their full glory. We will then go back and discuss
electric and magnetic field in matter (Chapters 4 and 6). If we have time, we will conclude
with discussion on electromagnetic waves. Some of Chapter 10 material will be sprinkled
throughout the course where appropriate but we will not get into Chapter 10 in detail.
Due to time limitations, we will not be able to address radiation or relativity.
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Homeworks (2008):
- HW#1: Due Wednesday, January 23
- HW#2: Due Monday, February 4
- HW#3: Due Friday, February 22
- HW#4: Due Wednesday, March 2
- HW#5: Due Wednesday, March 26
- HW#6: Due Wednesday, April 2
- HW#7: Due Friday, April 18
- HW#8: Due MONDAY, APRIL 28
- HW#9 (last one!): Due: Wednesday, April 30
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