Dynamics, Relativity and Electromagnetism (U03243)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 9 ? Acronym : PHY-3-DynRelEm

This course has two components,
Dynamics and Relativity, and Electromagnetism.

D&R:
This course emphasises frames of reference in discussing the classical mechanics of particles. It starts with a review of Newtonian mechanics, the importance of inertial frames and the classical description of collisions and scattering processes. Non-inertial frames are introduced, leading to a discussion of the centrifugal and Coriolis forces. There follows a substantial section on Special Relativity, which introduces Lorentz transformations, Minkowski spacetime, relativistic kinematics, and the application of four-vector methods to particle collisions and decays. The course concludes with an introduction to General Relativity through a discussion of the equivalence principle, and the idea of curved spacetime.

Electromagnetism:
A course on the time-independent and time-dependent properties of electromagnetic fields in vacuo and in matter, leading to Maxwell's Equations, which encompass the laws of classical electromagnetism. These laws are used to derive properties associated with electromagnetic waves.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Physics 2A: Forces, Fields and Potentials (PHY-2-A); Foundations of Mathematical Physics (PHY-2-FoMP) or Applicable Mathematics 4 and Mathematical Methods 4 (MAT-2-am4/mm4) or Principles of Mathematical Physics(PHY-2-PoMP).

? Prohibited combinations : Dynamics & Relativity (pre-2006) U01356 Electromagnetism

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

Dynamics, Relativity and Electromagnetism (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 22 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
20/09/2007	09:00	10:00	Lecture Theatre B, JCMB	KB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	09:00	09:50	KB
Lecture	Thursday	09:00	09:50	KB

? Additional Class Information : Workshop/tutorial sessions, as arranged.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course a student should be able to:

Dynamice & Relativity (D&R):

1)define inertial frame,understand Lab & Centre of Mass frames; exploit via Galilean transformation
2)Use conservation laws for 2-particle scattering; trajectories,cross-sections
3)Explain fictitious forces in accelerating frames
4)Interpret/apply centrifugal/coriolis force
5)State Special Relativity postulates,discuss implications for simultaneity
6)State Lorentz transformation (LT);use Minkowski diagrams
7)Use LT for time dilation,length contraction,velocity addition
8)Define 4-vectors,show invariance of scalar products;apply to particle decays,collisions
9)Discuss causality,equivalence,space-time curvature; derive gravitational redshift

Electromagnetism (EM):

1) Define charge and current densities; differentiate between conductors and insulators
2) Calculate electric and magnetic fields; understand the properties of dipole fields; be able to use electric and
magnetic vector potentials
3) Know the integral and differential forms of Gauss's Law, Ampere's Law, Faraday's Law; Poisson's equation;
Maxwell's equations in vacuo and in materials
4) Calculate capacitance and inductance; understand induction and AC circuits
5) Understand the behaviour of electric and magnetic fields in materials; polarisation, magnetisation, and the field vectors D,H,E,B
6) Derive the conditions on fields at boundaries; formulate & solve boundary value problems using superposition, uniqueness, method of images
7) Use Maxwell's equations and vector calculus to calculate properties of time-varying EM fields
8) Describe the energy stored in EM fields and the Poynting vector
9) Describe the properties of EM waves; intrinsic impedance, absorption, attenuation, dispersion, reflection, transmission, evanescence, skin effect, total internal reflection, polarisation by reflection, propagation in waveguides
10) Describe the emission and absorption of EM radiation by accelerated charges