Course syllabus for Theory of electromagnetic fields

Course syllabus adopted 2025-02-24 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameElektromagnetisk fältteori
  • CodeEEF031
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKTEM
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyElectrical Engineering, Engineering Physics
  • DepartmentELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 59119
  • Maximum participants50
  • Open for exchange studentsNo

Credit distribution

0194 Examination 7.5 c
Grading: TH
7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Undergraduate mathematics courses: Multivariable analysis (MVE600 or equivalent), Complex analysis (MVE295 or equivalent)

Aim

The course aims to provide knowledge of electromagnetic fields, a subject that contains fundamental physics and applications.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  • explain the meaning of electromagnetic field theory's basic concepts and operations in electrostatics, magnetostatics and electrodynamics, and be able to perform the operations and use this in problem-solving. 
  • explain the connections between the different concepts and use these connections in problem-solving.
  • combine knowledge of different concepts in practical problem-solving

Content

Electrostatics

Charge and charge densities, Coulomb's law, electrostatic field, Gauss' law, electrostatic potential, conductors and insulators, electric dipoles and dipole fields, torque and forces on dipoles in electric fields, polarisation and polarisation charge densities, electric displacement, boundary conditions, capacitance calculations, electrostatic energy, energy density in the electric field, force calculation using the energy method, Poisson's and Laplace's equations, uniqueness theorem, electrostatic boundary value problems. Steady electric current: Current density, Ohm's law, equation of continuity, boundary conditions, relaxation time, Joule's law, resistance calculations.

Magnetostatics

Magnetic flux density, Lorentz force, Ampère's law, magnetic vector potential, Biot-Savart's law, magnetic dipoles and dipole fields, torque and forces on dipoles in magnetic fields, magnetisation, magnetisation current densities, magnetic field intensity, boundary conditions, ferromagnetic hysteresis, inductance and mutual inductance, magnetic energy, energy density in magnetic field, force calulations using the energy method. 

Electrodynamics

Faraday's law of induction, displacement current density, Maxwell's equations, boundary conditions, wave equations, retarded potentials, complex vector fields, plane waves, skin effect, Poynting's theorem, reflection and transmission of plane wave at plane interface, Fresnel equations, Brewster angle, total internal reflection, antennas, Hertzian dipole.

Organisation

Lectures, tutorials, problem solving. A non-obligatory "mid-period exam" can give bonus points for the exam. Voluntary web-based hand-in questions every week can give bonus points for the exam.

In SP3 the course is read together with EEN190, Vector fields and theory of electromagnetic fields.  

Literature

Course book: DK Cheng: Field and Wave Electromagnetics (Pearson New International Edition) 

Supplementary course material is made available on the course webpage.

Examination including compulsory elements

A written exam. Non-obligatory hand-in questions and a voluntary "mid-period exam" give bonus points for the exam.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.