FY549: Electrodynamics

Study Board for Natural Sciences

Teaching language: English
EKA: N500050102
Assessment: Second examiner: Internal
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Bachelor

STADS ID (UVA): N500050101
ECTS value: 5

Date of Approval: 01-04-2025


Duration: 1 semester

Version: Approved - active

Internal Course Code

FY549

Entry requirements

None

Academic preconditions

Knowledge of FT500: Mechanics and Thermodynamics, FT501: Mathematics and FT504: Electromagnetism and Optics is expected.

Course introduction

The course introduces electrodynamics including vector calculus and the relativistic formulation of electrodynamics.  

The course builds on the knowledge gained in the courses in the first year, particularly FT504, and provides a professional basis for studying the subjects special relativity, general relativity, classical and quantum field theory, which are located later in the program. Furthermore electromagnetism is the foundation of observational astronomy. 

The overall goal of the course is that the students gain a thorough understanding of electrodynamics and are able to formulate themselves physically and mathematically about electrodynamic phenomena.

The first 7 weeks of the course are read together with the course Electrodynamics and Circuit Theory (E24).

Expected learning outcome

The aim is for the students to be able to apply the mathematical formalism and Maxwells equations in Electrodynamics to pose and solve models for physical problems.

Content

The course builds on Electromagnetism and Optics (FT504). Where the FT504 was primarily about drawing up the basic laws of nature and applying them to static situations, we go into FY549 in depth with Maxwell's equations and a number of their physical consequences such as electromagnetic waves, electrodynamics, which are about moving charges and the associated time-dependent electromagnetic fields, relativistic electrodynamics in 4-vector notation, Lagrange formulation and gauge symmetry.

Key topics in the course will be:
  • Maxwells equations.  
  • Poynting vector.
  • Electromagnetic waves, reflection and transmission of waves at an interface, wave guides
  • The potential formulation of electrodynamics.
  • Radiation fields from electric and magnetic dipoles.
  • Electromagnetic fields from moving charges.
  • Vector algebra and relativistic electrodynamics.
  • Lagrange formulation and gauge symmetry of electromagnetism

Literature

See itlsearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Examination regulations

Exam element a)

Timing

Autumn and January

Tests

Portfolio

EKA

N500050102

Assessment

Second examiner: Internal

Grading

7-point grading scale

Identification

Student Identification Card - Full name and SDU username

Language

Normally, the same as teaching language

Duration

Written exam - 4 hours

Examination aids

All common aids are allowed e.g. books, notes and computer programmes which do not use internet etc. 

Internet is not allowed during the exam. However, you may visit the course site in itslearning to open system "DE-Digital Exam". If you wish to use course materials from itslearning, you must download the materials to your computer no later thn day before the exam. During the exam you cannot be sure that all course materials is accessible in itslearning.    

ECTS value

5

Additional information

Portfolio consisting of the following elements: 
1) a number of assignments submitted during the course.
2) Final written exam during the exam period

To achieve a passing grade overall, both elements 1 and 2 must individually meet the learning objectives.
The assessment of element 1 takes place in conjunction with the completion of element 2.
Element 1 contributes 25% to the final grade, and element 2 contributes 75%. However, an overall assessment is applied.

Indicative number of lessons

48 hours per semester

Teaching Method

Planned lessons: 
Total number of planned lessons: 48
Hereof: 
Common lectures in classroom/auditorium: 24
Lessons / Tutorials: 24

The teaching method is an interactive lecture on the blackboard (one lecture per week).

Each week, the students will also work on a problem set to be handed in the following week. The problem set will be discussed during a tutorial session.

In the first two weeks of the course, additional tutorial lessons will help to brush up the fundamentals of vector algebra.

Other planned teaching activities: 

  • Solution of weekly assignments
  • Self study of various parts of the course material
  • Reflection upon the teaching

Teacher responsible

Name E-mail Department
Manuel Meyer mey@sdu.dk Institut for Fysik, Kemi og Farmaci

Additional teachers

Name E-mail Department City
Ali Asghar Hakami Zanjani zanjani@sdu.dk Institut for Fysik, Kemi og Farmaci

Timetable

Administrative Unit

Fysik, kemi og Farmaci

Team at Registration

NAT

Offered in

Odense

Recommended course of study

Transition rules

Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study. 
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list. 
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.