The course provides a solid, modern introduction to Classical Electrodynamics. Understanding its foundations, elucidated with key examples, will reveal concepts that pervade all of Physics, and increase its appreciation as a coherent body of knowledge, with a powerful, systematic mode of investigation.

After completing this course students are able to:

Classical Electrodynamics describes the physics of Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetic waves (light). At the core of it are Maxwell’s Laws, which contain all the dynamical relationships connecting Electric and Magnetic fields with both their sources and each other. It is one of the most profound achievements of the 19th century and its technological applications have dramatically altered the world. This theory managed to unify all electromagnetic phenomena in a single consistent framework and thus inspired, influenced and even guided the systematic development of reasoning and methodology throughout all of Physics. It still took many decades for its ideas - of fields being physical objects in their own right, capable of interacting with material bodies, exerting forces and carrying energy and momentum - to reveal their full significance and impact.
Ultimately, it was Albert Einstein who realized what Classical Electrodynamics, if valid, told us about the very nature of Space and Time, and these insights formed the basis for his introduction of the theory of Relativity. This course will tell the story of Electromagnetism from the perspective just sketched. Once one has understood the theory in its modern formulation, insights can be expanded both in the direction of fundamentals of (Quantum) Field Theory in general, and in the direction of practical applications to be derived from Maxwell’s laws.
     

 

Format
Students prepare for class meetings by reading designated parts of the textbook and working on practice material. In class, instruction will be limited to brief lectures, highlighting key elements and replying to questions raised. Some of the contact hours will be devoted to presentation and discussion of materials that students are working on. Bi-weekly, a certain set of exercises are to be solved by the student at home; this work will be graded. There will be a written closed-book midterm exam. After the midterm, each student works towards a final essay. The essay should demonstrate the ability to understand a fundamental issue in or an application of classical electrodynamics. This essay will also be presented in class. Lastly, there will be a written final closed-book exam.