Unit 3

Unit 3

Unit 1 • Unit 2 • Unit 3 • Unit 4 • Unit 5 • Unit 6 • Unit 7 • Unit 8

Macroscopic Maxwell's Equations in Matter

October 1 to October 15

You should review the notes and videos below by October 15.
Your response to Discussion Question 3.1 is due Tuesday, October 6, at 5pm.
Your response to Discussion Question 3.2 is due Tuesday, October 13, at 5pm.
Your solutions to Problem Set 6 are due Thursday, October 15, at 5pm.

In this unit we discuss the behavior of electromagnetic fields in dielectric and magnetic materials. Averaging over the effects of the charges contained within the particles out of which the material is composed, we derive the Macroscopic Maxwell's Equations. We discuss the polarization and magnetization densities and show how they lead to bound charge and bound current. We discuss the behavior at interfaces between two different media.

Below is a list of links to course notes for each topic in this unit, followed by links to recorded video lectures. Following these topic-links are links to the unit Discussion Boards and the unit Problem Set.

Notes and Video Lectures

Notes 3-1 - Dielectric materials: Polarization density, electric displacement field D, bound charge
- Video 3-1.1 - Dielectric materials and bound charge [21 min]
- Video 3-1.2 - Averaging over atomic lengths, the polarization density and the electric displacement field D [62 min]
Notes 3-2 - Magnetic materials: Magnetization density, magnetic field H, bound currents
- Video 3-2.1 - Magnetic materials and bound currents [22 min]
- Video 3-2.2 - Averaging over atomic lengths, the magnetization density and the magnetic field H [58 min]
Notes 3-3 - The Macroscopic Maxwell Equations
- Video 3-3.1 - Boundary conditions at surfaces and interfaces of dielectric and magnetic materials [20 min]
- Video 3-3.2 - Examples: a uniformly polarized sphere, and a uniformly magnetized sphere [28 min]
Notes 3-4 - Linear materials, Clausius-Mossotti equation, behavior at interfaces, examples
- Video 3-4.1 - Electric and magnetic susceptibilities, the dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability, the Clausius-Mossotti equation [34 min]
- Video 3-4.2 - Screening by bound charges, interfaces, examples [34 min]
Notes 3-5 - A charge off-center inside a dielectric sphere
- Video 3-5.1 - A more interesting example [30 min]
Notes 3-6 - Bar magnets
- Video 3-6.1 - Bar magnets, H vs B [16 min]

Discussion Board for Unit 3
Use this link to post questions regarding the material in Unit 3. Questions and replies will be viewable by the entire class. To post a question, click on the Create Thread link on the top of the Discusson Board page. To get an email message whenever someone makes a post, click on the Subscribe link on the top of the Discussion Board page.

Discussion Question 3.1 - Due Tuesday, October 6, at 5pm
In the Notes 3-1 you will find Discussion Question 3.1. Use this link to post your brief response to these questions. You may view responses only after you have posted your own response. To post your response, click on the Create Thread link on the top of the Discusson Board page.

Discussion Question 3.2 - Due Tuesday, October 13, at 5pm
In the Notes 3-2 you will find Discussion Question 3.2. Use this link to post your brief response to these questions. You may view responses only after you have posted your own response. To post your response, click on the Create Thread link on the top of the Discusson Board page.

Problem Set 6 - Due Thursday, October 15, at 5pm
You must scan or take a photo of your solutions, collate them into a single multi-page pdf file, and upload it to Blackboad using this link.