Unit 2966: Electromagnetism Fundamentals and Applications

1. Introduction to Electromagnetism

• Overview of electromagnetism as a fundamental force
• Relationship between electric fields and magnetic fields
• Behavior of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields

2. Coulomb’s Law and Electric Fields

• Statement and mathematical formulation of Coulomb’s Law
• Electrostatic forces between point charges
• Concept and visualization of electric fields
• Electric field lines and field strength
• Influence of electric fields on charge movement

3. Magnetic Fields and Magnetic Forces

• Origin of magnetic fields from moving charges and currents
• Magnetic field lines and their properties
• Lorentz force law: force on moving charges in magnetic fields
• Motion of charged particles in combined electric and magnetic fields

4. Electromagnetic Induction

• Faraday’s Law of electromagnetic induction: description and mathematical expression
• Lenz’s Law and the direction of induced currents
• Concept of changing magnetic flux
• Generation of electric currents through time-varying magnetic fields
• Practical examples: induction coils, transformers

5. Maxwell’s Equations

• Introduction to Maxwell’s equations and their significance
• Gauss’s Law for electricity
• Gauss’s Law for magnetism
• Faraday’s Law of induction (differential and integral forms)
• Ampère-Maxwell Law
• Interpretation and physical meaning of each equation
• How Maxwell’s equations unify electricity and magnetism

6. Electromagnetic Waves

• Derivation of electromagnetic wave equations from Maxwell’s equations
• Nature of electromagnetic waves: transverse, self-propagating
• Relationship between oscillating electric and magnetic fields
• Speed of light and its derivation from electromagnetic constants
• Wave properties: wavelength, frequency, amplitude

7. Applications of Electromagnetism

• Electric motors: principles and operation
• Generators and electromagnetic induction
• Transformers and voltage regulation
• Antennas and radio wave transmission
• Communication systems based on electromagnetic principles

8. Electromagnetic Spectrum

• Overview of the electromagnetic spectrum
• Characteristics and wavelength/frequency ranges of spectrum regions:
  • Radio waves
  • Microwaves
  • Infrared radiation
  • Visible light
  • Ultraviolet radiation
  • X-rays
  • Gamma rays
• Applications and effects of different spectral regions

End of Unit Outline