PHY3032 : Advanced Electromagnetism
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Dr Mark Rayson
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
To enhance the students’ knowledge of the fundamental theory of electromagnetism and to enable the students to view these laws within the wider context of physics as a whole.
Module Summary
The theory of electromagnetism was a tour de force of 19th century physics. In this module it will be placed in its proper context with regard to another pillar of classical physics, namely, special relativity. The course ends with a discussion of a radical change to our view of the world required to understand previously covered phenomena when considering the particle nature of light.
Outline Of Syllabus
Scalar and vector fields, vector calculus, electrostatics, scalar potentials, Maxwell’s equations inferred from electrostatics and coordinate transformations, magnetic charge and duality transformations, magnetic vector potentials, four-potential and four-current, radiation and the particle nature of light.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 8:30 | 8:30 | Revision for final exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Final Exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 6 | 3:00 | 18:00 | Tutorial assignments |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Tutorial sessions to cover solutions to practical problems |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | Formal lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 12 | 0:10 | 2:00 | Office hours |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 39:30 | 39:30 | Reviewing lecture notes, general reading |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provide core material and guidance for further reading to furnish the fundamental concepts, as well as their origins, of electromagnetism.
Problem solving and tutorials will enable the students to both apply these fundamental concepts to physical problems and to show, for themselves, some of the intricate relationships in the underlying theory.
In addition office hours (two per week) will provide an opportunity for more direct contact between individual students and the lecturer: a typical student might spend a total of one or two hours over the course of the module, either individually or as part of a group.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 80 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | 20 | Tutorial assignments |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The examination provides the opportunity for the student to demonstrate their understanding of the lecture course material. Tutorials allow the students to demonstrate more in depth application of the principles learnt as well as providing an opportunity to confirm the more subtle/involved statements made in the course.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHY3032's Timetable