Mathematical preliminaries: scalar and vector fields. Divergence and curl. Divergence and Stokes’ theorems. Irrotational and solenoidal fields.
Electrostatics: electric charge, Coulombs law, superposition principle. Electric field and potential, Gauss' law, work and energy of charged particles. Electric dipole. Boundary conditions.
Conductors: Electrostatic induction. Screening and Faraday cage. Capacitors. Poisson and Laplace equations. Uniqueness and Mean value theorems.
Electric fields in matter: dieletric constant. Main microscopic phenomena causing polarization. Linear dielectrics.
Electric current and theory of circuits: current density, Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, Joule's law, electromotive force (emf), charging and discharging of capacitors, circuit analysis.
Magnetic fields: Lorentz force, Biot-Savart law. Properties of the magnetic field in the stationary case. Ampere's law. magnetic polarisation and an overview of magnetic materials.
Magnetic fields in matter: magnetic dipoles and magnetic polarization. Diamagnets, paramagnets, ferromagnets.
Electromagnetic induction: Faraday-Lenz law. Inductance. LR circuits. Energy of the magnetic field and mutual inductance.
Maxwell's equations and wave propagation. Overview of Maxwell’s equations. Wave Equation. Electromagnetic waves in vacuum. Velocity of light. Plane wave solution of Maxwell's equations.
The detailed lecture plan can be found here.
The recommended textbook is:
Griffiths, David - Introduction to Electrodynamics (5th ed.), Cambridge University Press, (2023). 4th edition is also fine.
Additional Lecture Notes:
For further study, clarification and (solved) exercises, please consult:
David Tong, Lectures on Vector Calculus
David Tong, Lectures on Electromagnetism
Edward M. Purcell, David J. Morin - Electricity and Magnetism, 3d ed., (2013). Cambridge University Press.
David Halliday, Robert Resnick, Jearl Walker - Fundamentals of Physics, (2018). Extended-Wiley
Weekly exercises are uploaded on BBoard.
For doubts and questions use Piazza.
Students will be evaluated on the basis of a written exam. The written exam will be divided into two partial exams held during the semester or one final general exam. Each type of exam will contribute to the final grade as follows:
General exam: 32 points
Each partial exam: 16 points
A grade of 30 cum laude corresponds to 31 or 32 points. To pass the exam, students must earn a grade of at least 18. The written exams consists in solving some exercises to be worked out on paper. The purpose of the exercises will be to test knowledge of fundamental physical laws and the ability to model and solve problems. An aptitude for problem solving along with a rigorous use of advanced mathematical tools is the main skill the exams are intended to assess. The written exam is not open-book.