Course detail
Electrodynamics and Special Theory of Relativity
FSI-TDE Acad. year: 2023/2024 Summer semester
The course represents the second part of the basic course of theoretical physics. It is concerned with principles of the electromagnetic field theory and the description using Maxwell's equations. Conservation laws of energy and of quantity of motion are derived, field potentials are introduced and electrostatic, magnetostatic and quasistationary fields are described. A great attention is paid to spreading of electromagnetic waves in diverse environments and also to the behaviour of the field at the interface between two environments. At the end of the course the motion of charged particles in electromagnetic fields, principles of the special theory of relativity and invariance of Maxwell equations under the Lorentz transformation are explained.
Language of instruction
Czech
Number of ECTS credits
6
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
Knowledge of electromagnetism on the level defined by the textbook HALLIDAY, D. – RESNICK, R. – WALKER, J.: Fundamentals of Physics. J. Wiley and Sons.
MATHEMATICS: Basics of vector analysis.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
The exam is combined (written and oral).
Attendance at seminars is required and recorded by the tutor. Missed seminars have to be compensated.
Aims
The course objective is provide students with basic ideas and methods of classical electrodynamics and enable them to be capable of applying these basics to physical systems in order to explain and predict the behaviour of such systems.
The knowledge of principles of classical electrodynamics and ability of applying them to physical systems in order to explain and predict the behaviour of such systems.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme B-FIN-P: Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology, Bachelor's, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
39 hours, optionally
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
1. Maxwell equations (in differential and integral forms), continuity equation for charge and current. Vector and scalar potentials
2. Conservation laws: conservation of energy and momentum for electromagnetic fields
3. Electrostatics: Coulombs law, Gauss law, Poisson and Laplace equations, boundary-value problems in electrostatics. Greens function
4. Magnetostatics: Biot-Savart law, Amperes law, boundary-value problems in magnetostatics
5. Quasi-static fields. Skin effect
6. Wave equation. Retarded potentials. Fields and radiation of a oscillating dipoles
7. Wave propagation in vacuum, isotropic dielectrics and conductors
8. Index of refraction and dispersion relation. Propagation of wave packet in dispersive medium
9. Resonant cavities and waveguides
10. Boundary conditions at interface between media. Fresnel formulae
11. The special theory of relativity and Maxwell equations
12. The motion of charges in electric and magnetic fields
Exercise
26 hours, compulsory
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
http://physics.fme.vutbr.cz/ufi.php?Action=0&Id=977