Insegnamento a.a. 2021-2022

Electrostatics: electric charge, Coulombs law, electric field strength and potential, superposition contributions from point charges, Gauss' law, electrostatic energy and capacitors.

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: flux density, magnetic forces, Biot-Savart law, magnetic dipoles, Ampere's law on integral form, magnetic polarisation and an overview of magnetic materials.

Electromagnetic induction: Faraday's och Lenz' laws, inductance. LR cicuits, the energy of a magnetic field, mututal inductance.

Maxwell's equations and wave propagation.
 

• Know the most advanced laws of classical physics, expressed both in integral and in differential forms.

• Understand how advanced mathematical concepts play a role in their definition (line and surface integrals, topology, differential equations)

• Understand wave propagation

• Make connections between electromagnetism and special relativity.

• Performing calculations of electric and magnetic fields in space in some selected geometries with boundary conditions.
• Performing calculations of stationary and time-dependent electrical currents in circuits.
• Account for basic theories in electrostatics, electrical circuits, stationary electromagnetism and electromagnetic induction.
• Study wave propagation in simple settings

• Face-to-face lectures
• Exercises (exercises, database, software etc.)
• Group assignments

Exercise sessions are dedicated to problem solving using advanced mathematical tools.

Group projects are used to explore deeper topics which might require some coding (e.g. signals, waves, ...)

Students will be evaluated on the basis of written exams and a group project. 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:

Genera written: 28 points

Each written partial: 14 points

Group project: 4 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, including the contribution to the score from the group project. An optional oral exam may be taken by students who want to try to improve their written+project grade.

Written exams will be designed with open-ended questions and will not be open-book. 

The purpose of the open-ended questions 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 purpose of the group projects will be to expose the student to more advanced problems, giving them time to learn advanced concepts and creatively apply appropriate mathematical or computational techniques.

The group project will be evaluated through an oral presentation and a written report. As a byproduct, students will be expected to learn how to present a scientific work in a concise but rigorous manner.

- Griffiths, David (2012). Introduction to Electrodynamics(4th ed.). Addison-Wesley. ISBN 978-0-321-85656-2

- Handouts for each lecture