FY549: Electrodynamics

Entry requirements

None

Academic preconditions

Knowledge of contents of FT504 or similar

Course introduction

The course introduces electrodynamics including vector calculus and the relativistic formulation of electrodynamics.

The course builds on the knowledge gained in the courses in the first year, particularly FT504, and provides a professional basis for studying the subjects special relativity, general relativity, classical and quantum field theory, which are located later in the program. Furthermore electromagnetism is the foundation of observational astronomy.

The overall goal of the course is that the students gain a thorough understanding of electrodynamics and are able to formulate themselves physically and mathematically about electrodynamic phenomena.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

Develop the fundamental theory of electromagnetism. It provides an understanding of different phenomena in electromagnetism at the theoretical level and the application of the fundamental theory in practical problems. The students can distill the fundamental physics aspects from a problem and use the relevant theoretical methods to find solutions.

Applications:

The greenhouse effect is due to the fact that earth's atmosphere efficiently traps infrared radiation.The Maxwell equations describe how radiation (light) propagates through media, like, e.g., earth's atmosphere, and are therefore at the heart of understanding the physical processes that lead to climate change. In the lecture, the equation describing radiative transport will be derived from the Maxwell equations and its implications in the context of understanding the physics of the atmosphere will be discussed.

Expected learning outcome

The aim is for the students to be able to apply the mathematical formalism and Maxwells equations in Electrodynamics to pose and solve models for physical problems.

Content

The course builds on Electromagnetism and Optics (FT504). Where the FT504 was primarily about drawing up the basic laws of nature and applying them to static situations, we go into FY549 in depth with Maxwell's equations and a number of their physical consequences such as electromagnetic waves, electrodynamics, which are about moving charges and the associated time-dependent electromagnetic fields, relativistic electrodynamics in 4-vector notation, Lagrange formulation and gauge symmetry.

Key topics in the course will be:

Maxwells equations.
Poynting vector.
Electromagnetic waves, reflection and transmission of waves at an interface.
The potential formulation of electrodynamics.
Radiation fields from electric and magnetic dipoles.
Electromagnetic fields from moving charges.
Vector algebra and relativistic electrodynamics.
Lagrange formulation and gauge symmetry of electromagnetism
Kirchhoff's laws for electrical circuits, alternating current circuits and complex impedances

Literature

See itlsearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Prerequisites for participating in the exam a)

Timing

Autumn

Tests

Mandatory assignments

EKA

N500050112

Assessment

Second examiner: None

Grading

Pass/Fail

Identification

Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Examination aids

To be announced during the course

ECTS value

Additional information

There will be a weekly set of problems during the course. There will be 20 points for each set and the students have to reach 60 % on average.
The prerequisite examination is a prerequisite for participation in exam element a)

Exam element a)

Timing

January

Prerequisites

Type	Prerequisite name	Prerequisite course
Examination part	Prerequisites for participating in the exam a)	N500050101, FY549: Electrodynamics

Tests

Written exam

EKA

N500050102

Assessment

Second examiner: Internal

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Duration

4 hours

Examination aids

All common aids are allowed e.g. books, notes and computer programmes which do not use internet etc.

Internet is not allowed during the exam. However, you may visit the course site in itslearning to open system "DE-Digital Exam". If you wish to use course materials from itslearning, you must download the materials to your computer no later thn day before the exam. During the exam you cannot be sure that all course materials is accessible in itslearning.

ECTS value

Indicative number of lessons

42 hours per semester

Teaching Method

The teaching method is based on three phase model.

Intro phase: 26 hours
Skills training phase: 18 hours, here of tutorials: 18 hours

Activities during the study phase:

Solution of weekly assignments in order to discuss these in the exercise sections.
Solving the project assigmentsSelf study of various parts of the course material.
Reflection upon the intro and training sections.

The teaching method is an interactive lecture on the blackboard, together with tutorials in which a central aim is to develop the students’ conceptual understanding further and develops calculational skills by solving exercises.

Teacher responsible

Name	E-mail	Department
Mads Toudal Frandsen	frandsen@cp3.sdu.dk	Fysik
Manuel Meyer	mey@sdu.dk	Institut for Fysik, Kemi og Farmaci

Timetable

Odense

Show full time table

Administrative Unit

Fysik, kemi og Farmaci

Team at Educational Law & Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Profile	Education	Semester	Offer period

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study.

If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list.

See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.