ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES - 2023/4

Module Overview

The module reprises electrostatics (Gauss’ Law) and proceeds to introduce electromagnetic theory through a development of Maxwell’s Equations and concepts associated with the electric and magnetic polarisation of materials.

The module introduces electromagnetic wave theory and its applications to a range of traditional applications and problems as well as the use of Fourier processing for wave signal analysis.

Module provider

Mathematics & Physics

Module Leader

FLORESCU Marian (Maths & Phys)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Electromagnetism and applications

Reprise of Gauss’ Law (first Maxwell equation) and capacitors leading to Dielectrics, Insulators & Conductors, Electric Polarisation P, Electric Displacement D, Dielectric permittivity, Electric Susceptibility, Dielectric Screening, Boundary conditions for D and E.

Electric current I and current density j, Charge continuity, Magnetic field B, Biot-Savart Law, Gauss' Law for magnetism (second Maxwell equation), Force between two conductors, The Amp, Lorentz force, Hall effect, Ampere's Law.

Electromagnetic Induction, Faraday’s Law (third Maxwell equation), Mutual and self inductance, Energy storage in B-field, Magnetic torque, Magnetic dipoles..

Diamagnets, Paramagnets, Ferromagnetics, Magnetisation M, Magnetic intensity H, Magnetic permeability, Magnetic susceptibility,

Magnetisation current, Magnetic circuits, Reluctance, Hysteresis, Permanent magnets, Boundary conditions for B and H,

Displacement current, fourth Maxwell equation, review of vector analysis.

Electromagnetic Waves and Applications:

The module investigates fundamental concepts in classical electrodynamics.

Combining Maxwell’s equations to investigate electromagnetic wave propagation in vacuum, in dielectric and conducting materials and the behavior of electromagnetic waves at interfaces:

Electromagnetic Waves, Speed, Refractive index, Attenuation, Skin depth, Uniform Plane waves, Linear Polarisation, Energy density and Power of Waves, Waves at Boundaries - reflection & refraction.

Fresnel's equations, Brewster angle, Total Internal reflection. Transmission Lines

Processing signals images using Fourier analysis and manipulation of Fourier-transformed data.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Online (open book) bi-weekly quizzes may be assessed with an alternative question set.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate subject knowledge and ability to apply subject knowledge to unseen problems in electromagnetism, electromagnetic waves and electromagnetic properties of materials.
Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• A final examination of  2h duration, with two sections: section A contains compulsory questions worth 20 marks and section B contains three questions of 20 marks each of which the students attempt two.


• Online (open-book) bi-weekly quizzes.

Formative assessment

• Problem sets on electromagnetism and electromagnetic waves are provided weekly together with model answers to these questions, which allow the students to test their understanding of course material.

Feedback
Verbal feedback covering lecture material and problem sets is provided at hour-long weekly tutorial sessions throughout the semester. Model solutions for the questions on the problem sets provide students with feedback on their problem-solving ability. The online multiple-choice quizzes provide model solutions for the questions answered incorrectly.

Module aims

• The module aims to present a comprehensive coverage of fundamental topics of electromagnetism, electromagnetic waves and the electromagnetic properties of materials, including a review of electrostatics and magnetostatics and detailed studies of the characterization and propagation of electromagnetic waves. It does this through the development of relevant electromagnetism theory in lectures and though the presentation of traditional applications and problems in lectures and tutorial problems. The module aims to provide further practice in the use of the mathematical tools of vector calculus and partial differential equations learnt in PHY2064.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to: 

• equip students with subject knowledge.


• develop skills in applying subject knowledge to physical situations.


• enable students to tackle unseen problems in electrostatics, magnetostatics,  electrodynamics and electromagnetic wave phenomena.

The learning and teaching methods adopt a  hybrid approach in which each week typically includes: 

• video lectures split up into the week's topics.


• weekly extended lecture notes to aid students to develop a solid understanding of the concepts presented in the video lectures.


• weekly brief notes to aid students to monitor the progress.


• a weekly tutorial worksheet to provide practice in applying the concepts presented in the lectures.


• 3hr face-to-face lecture reviewing material covered in video lectures.


• 1hr face-to-face tutorial class that reviews worksheet questions

Typically, a total of 33 hours of lectures and 11 hours of tutorial classes.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PHY2065

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.