2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHYS2350 Electromagnetism (Joint Honours)

15 Credits Class Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Michael Ries
Email: M.E.Ries@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Mutually Exclusive

PHYS2300 Physics 3- Fields and Energy
PHYS2340 Electromagnetism (Geophysics)

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

By the end of the module you should be able to:
- use the integral versions of Maxwell's equations to explain the concepts of electric fields and potentials, magnetic fields and magnetic induction, and to calculate these fields in cases of simple symmetric geometry.
- calculate the force on a moving charge in an electric and magnetic field and the force on a current carrying conductor, and to calculate the energy stored in electric and magnetic fields.
- analyse simple AC circuits containing resistors, capacitors and inductors.
- state Maxwell's equations in both integral and differential form and discuss their derivation from the physical laws of electromagnetism, in vacuo and in dielectric and magnetic media.

Learning outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of:
1. Electric and Magnetic fields, Biot-Savart law for a point charge and Lorentz force;
2. Maxwell’s Equations both “microscopic” and “macroscopic”;
3. Electric and Magnetic potential, Poisson’s equation;
4. Wave equation, EM waves, EM Spectrum and the Poynting vector;
5. AC circuits (LCR), complex impedance, transients, resonance.

Skills outcomes

Understanding of core electromagnetism

Syllabus

Electric and Magnetic Fields:
E field, Gauss; B field, Ampere; Magnetic induction, Faraday, Lenz.
AC currents:
in resistors inductors and capacitors, LCR circuits, Complex impedance, Resonance.
Maxwell's Equations:
(A) In vacuo with charges: Poisson; Magnetostatics, Displacement current, Maxwell's extension of Ampere's law; EM waves in vacuo, Energy and momentum in EM waves, EM spectrum.
(B) In dielectric and magnetic media - Polarization and local fields; Magnetization; Summary of Maxwell's equations.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Lecture 33 1 33
Private study hours 117
Total Contact hours 33
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 150

Private study

Reading through lecture notes and solving problems

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
In-course Assessment Regular Coursework 20
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 20

Resits will be in standard exam format.

Exams
Exam type Exam duration % of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) 1.0 Hrs 30 Mins 80
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) 80

Students will have to complete an in-person exam at the end of the module. This will take place during the examinations period at the end of the semester and will be time bound.

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 4/29/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team