Syllabus for Electromagnetism

Decisions and guidelines

Required: Vector calculus (Gauss's and Stokes' laws) from Geometry and Calculus III, which preferably are studied in parallel with the first half of the course.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• make mathematical models of a given electromagnetic system
• perform calculations of electric and magnetic fields for selected geometries and boundary conditions
• derive, explain and calculate static and time dependent currents in circuits containing resistors, capacitors and inductors
• give examples of and explain electromagnetic phenomena and electric circuits, as well as working principles of simple electrical devices
• give an account of how electromagnetic waves transport energy in space
• plan and perform measurements on electromagnetic circuits with the most common measurement instruments

Content

Electrostatics: electric charge, Coulomb's law, electric field strength and potential, Poisson's and Laplace's equations, Gauss's law, electric dipoles, potential and field of an electric dipole, capacitance, polarisation, dielectrics, D-field, refraction of fields at boundaries, reflection, electrostatic energy, and capacitors.

Magnetic fields: B-field, magnetic forces, Biot-Savart formula, magnetic dipoles, magnetic polarisation, H-field, refraction of fields at boundaries, dia-, para- and ferromagnetism, hysteresis, magnetic circuits, permanent magnets and Ampere's law.

Calculation tools: div and curl of vector fields, identities for grad, div and curl in different coordinate systems, application of Stokes' and Gauss's laws for electromagnetic fields and numeric calculations on fields and circuits.

Electromagnetic fields: time dependent electromagnetic fields, field energy, Maxwell's equations on differential form, scalar and vector potentials, electromagnetic waves, wave equation, Poynting's vector, reflection of waves and dipole radiation.

Electric currents and circuits: current density, continuity equation, Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, Joule's law, EMF, charging and discharging of a capacitor. Discrete circuits, common component and their properties, circuit analysis and two-terminal equivalents.

Electromagnetic induction: Lenz's law, Faraday's law, inductance, energy of magnetic fields, mutual inductance and LR circuits.

AC circuits: complex method (jω-method) and phasors, resonance circuits, LRC circuits, common components and their properties. Active, reactive and complex power. Overview on three-phase systems.

General electricity knowledge: principles for electric motors and generators, the transformer, and overview on electric safety.

Instruction

Lectures, exercises and laboratory exercises. Exercise sessions with problem solving in smaller groups may occur, as well as exercises in computer halls. Subject-integrated communications training, including feedback and self-evaluation, are included in the course.

Assessment

Mandatory home assignments (2 credits)

Written exam (6 credits)

Laboratory exercises (2 credits)

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.