PH3007 Electromagnetism
Academic year
2025 to 2026 Semester 2
Curricular information may be subject to change
Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.
Key module information
SCOTCAT credits
15
SCQF level
SCQF level 9
Module description
The properties of electromagnetic fields will be explored using a variety of mathematical tools (in particular, vector and differential calculus). Topics will include: charge and current distributions, electro- and magnetostatics, materials, electrodynamics, conservation principles and electromagnetic waves. This module builds on knowledge and skills acquired in prior coursework by developing techniques for solving more advanced problems in electromagnetism.
Relationship to other modules
Pre-requisites
BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS PH3081 OR PASS PH3082 ) OR PASS PH2012 AND PASS MT2501 AND PASS MT2503
Anti-requisites
YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE MT4553
Assessment pattern
Written Examination = 80%, Coursework = 20%
Re-assessment
Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7
Learning and teaching methods and delivery
Weekly contact
3 lectures and fortnightly tutorials.
Scheduled learning hours
36
Guided independent study hours
114
Intended learning outcomes
- Use Maxwell鈥檚 equations in integral form to derive expressions for the fields due to charge/current distributions having planar, cylindrical or spherical symmetry.
- Calculate electro-magnetostatic fields by direct integration of Coulomb鈥檚 law and the Biot-Savart law; and determine time-independent scalar and vector potentials through a variety of techniques (e.g., method of images, multipole expansion).
- Translate between E- & B-fields and the auxiliary fields D & H, in terms of the polarisation and magnetisation of a material; and be able to derive (from Maxwell's equations) and apply the boundary conditions on E, B, D & H at the interface of two different linear media.
- Explain how Poynting鈥檚 theorem is an expression of local energy conservation, and use its mathematical expression to solve problems involving the transport of energy by electromagnetic fields
- Derive wave equations (and their solutions) for electromagnetic fields in free space and in matter, starting from Maxwell's Equations.
- Determine the boundary conditions for EM waves at the interface of two different linear media, starting from Maxwell's Equations, and apply them to solve for and interpret the reflected and transmitted waves.
Additional information from school
"芦p禄-芦/p禄 芦p禄芦strong禄PH3007 - Electromagnetism芦/strong禄芦/p禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦p禄芦strong禄Overview芦/strong禄芦/p禄 芦p禄The properties of electromagnetic fields are explored using a variety of mathematical tools (in particular, vector and differential calculus). Topics include: time-independent charge and current distributions, electric and magnetic properties of matter, electrodynamics, conservation laws, electromagnetic waves and radiation.芦/p禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦p禄芦strong禄Aims & Objectives芦/strong禄芦/p禄 芦p禄This module builds on knowledge and skills acquired in prior courses, to develop more sophisticated techniques for solving problems in undergraduate electromagnetism.芦/p禄 芦p禄The various topics will be presented as part of a coherent theory of classical fields (i.e., as consequences of Maxwell's equations and the Lorentz force law).芦/p禄 芦p禄The organisation and level of difficulty of the module have been chosen so as to deepen students' understanding of electromagnetic theory, prepare them for practical work in the laboratory, and provide a bridge to more advanced study.芦/p禄 芦p禄Alongside the development of general problem-solving skills and intellectual maturity, emphasis will be placed on conceptual understanding, and deriving physical meaning from mathematical expressions and visual representations.芦/p禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦p禄芦strong禄Learning Outcomes芦/strong禄芦/p禄 芦p禄By the end of this module, students are expected to be able to:芦/p禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦ul禄 芦li禄use Maxwell鈥檚 equations in integral form to derive expressions for the fields due to charge/current distributions having planar, cylindrical or spherical symmetry.芦/li禄 芦/ul禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦ul禄 芦li禄calculate electro-magnetostatic fields by direct integration of Coulomb鈥檚 law and the Biot-Savart law; and determine time-independent scalar and vector potentials through a variety of techniques (e.g., method of images, multipole expansion).芦/li禄 芦/ul禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦ul禄 芦li禄translate between 芦strong禄E芦/strong禄- & 芦strong禄B芦/strong禄-fields and the auxiliary fields 芦strong禄D芦/strong禄 & 芦strong禄H芦/strong禄, in terms of the polarisation and magnetisation of a material; and be able to derive (from Maxwell's equations) and apply the boundary conditions on 芦strong禄E芦/strong禄, 芦strong禄B芦/strong禄, 芦strong禄D芦/strong禄 & 芦strong禄H芦/strong禄 at the interface of two different linear media.芦/li禄 芦/ul禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦ul禄 芦li禄explain how Poynting鈥檚 theorem is an expression of local energy conservation, and use its mathematical expression to solve problems involving the transport of energy by electromagnetic fields.芦/li禄 芦/ul禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦ul禄 芦li禄derive wave equations (and their solutions) for electromagnetic fields in free space and in matter, starting from Maxwell's Equations.芦/li禄 芦/ul禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦ul禄 芦li禄determine the boundary conditions for EM waves at the interface of two different linear media, starting from Maxwell's Equations, and apply them to solve for and interpret the reflected and transmitted waves.芦/li禄 芦/ul禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦p禄芦strong禄Synopsis芦/strong禄芦/p禄 芦p禄芦u禄Electrostatics芦/u禄: Charge and current distributions; Coulomb鈥檚 law; Gauss鈥� law; potential theory; linear dielectrics.芦/p禄 芦p禄芦u禄Magnetostatics芦/u禄: Biot-Savart law, Ampere鈥檚 law; vector potential; magnetic fields in matter.芦/p禄 芦p禄芦u禄Electrodynamics芦/u禄: Maxwell鈥檚 equations; electromagnetic induction; conservation laws for charge and energy; Poynting vector; wave equation; time-dependent potentials and gauge invariance; dipole radiation; reflection and transmission.芦/p禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦p禄芦strong禄Additional information on continuous assessment etc.芦/strong禄芦/p禄 芦p禄Please note that the definitive comments on continuous assessment will be communicated within the module. This section is intended to give an indication of the likely breakdown and timing of the continuous assessment.芦/p禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦p禄This module is part of the core JH programme, and as such there is a summary of deadlines etc on the School鈥檚 Students and Staff web pages. There is a class test, likely in week seven, contributing 15% to the module mark, Students have compulsory tutorials every two weeks, with hand-in tutorial work counting for 5% of the module total. 芦/p禄 芦p禄 芦/p禄 芦p禄芦strong禄Accreditation Matters芦/strong禄芦/p禄 芦p禄This module contains some material that is or may be part of the IOP 鈥淐ore of Physics鈥�. This includes芦/p禄 芦p禄Electrostatics and magnetostatics芦/p禄 芦p禄Gauss, Faraday, Amp猫re, Lenz and Lorentz laws to the level of their vector expression芦/p禄 芦p禄Maxwell鈥檚 equations and plane EM wave solution; Poynting vector芦/p禄 芦p禄Polarisation of waves and behaviour at plane interfaces芦/p禄 芦p禄芦strong禄 芦/strong禄芦/p禄
Recommended Books
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