MT4553 Theory of Electric and Magnetic Fields

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

10.00 am Mon (odd weeks), Wed, Fri

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof D H Mackay

Prof D H Mackay
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The module will consider the mathematical and physical principles that describe the theory of electric and magnetic fields. It will first describe the basic principles of electrostatics and magneto-statics and following this electrodynamics. Next Maxwell's equations are described along with the properties of electro-magnetic waves in a variety of media. Finally an application to the area of plasma physics is carried out through considering the orbits of charged particles in a variety of spatially and time varying magnetic fields.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS MT2503 AND PASS MT2506 AND PASS MT3504

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU TAKE PH3007

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 90%, Coursework (class test) = 10%

Re-assessment

Oral examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2.5 hours of lectures (x 10 weeks), 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks)

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand the fundamental nature of electric and magnetic fields under both static and dynamic cases
  • Be aple to solve a variety of electromagnetism problems using a range of geometry including cartesian, cylindrical and spherical coordinates
  • Understand the basic properties of electro-magnetic waves and their propagation in free space and linear media
  • Be able to relate Maxwells equations to applications in real world situations