Problems And Solutions In Special Relativity And Electromagnetism


Book Description

Field theory is an important topic in theoretical physics, which is studied in the physical and physico-mathematical departments of universities. Therefore, lecturers are faced with the urgent task of not only providing students with information about the subject, but also to help them master the material at a deep qualitative level, by presenting the specific features of general approaches to the statement and the solution of problems in theoretical physics. One of the ways to study field theory is the practical one, where the students can deepen their knowledge of the theoretical material and develop problem-solving skills. This book includes a concise theoretical summary of the main branches of field theory and electrodynamics, worked examples, and some problems for the student to solve.The book is written for students of theoretical and applied physics, and corresponds to the curricula of the theoretical courses 'Field theory' and 'Electrodynamics' for physics undergraduates. It can also be useful for students of other disciplines, in particular, those in which physics is one of the base subjects.




Special Relativity


Book Description

Writing a new book on the classic subject of Special Relativity, on which numerous important physicists have contributed and many books have already been written, can be like adding another epicycle to the Ptolemaic cosmology. Furthermore, it is our belief that if a book has no new elements, but simply repeats what is written in the existing literature, perhaps with a different style, then this is not enough to justify its publication. However, after having spent a number of years, both in class and research with relativity, I have come to the conclusion that there exists a place for a new book. Since it appears that somewhere along the way, mathem- ics may have obscured and prevailed to the degree that we tend to teach relativity (and I believe, theoretical physics) simply using “heavier” mathematics without the inspiration and the mastery of the classic physicists of the last century. Moreover current trends encourage the application of techniques in producing quick results and not tedious conceptual approaches resulting in long-lasting reasoning. On the other hand, physics cannot be done a ́ la carte stripped from philosophy, or, to put it in a simple but dramatic context A building is not an accumulation of stones! As a result of the above, a major aim in the writing of this book has been the distinction between the mathematics of Minkowski space and the physics of r- ativity.




Solved Problems in Classical Electromagnetism


Book Description

Classical electromagnetism - one of the fundamental pillars of physics - is an important topic for all types of physicists from the theoretical to the applied. The subject is widely recognized to be one of the most challenging areas of the physics curriculum, both for students to learn and for lecturers to teach. Although textbooks on electromagnetism are plentiful, hardly any are written in the question-and-answer style format adopted in this book. It contains nearly 300 worked questions and solutions in classical electromagnetism, and is based on material usually encountered during the course of a standard university physics degree. Topics covered include some of the background mathematical techniques, electrostatics, magnetostatics, elementary circuit theory, electrodynamics, electromagnetic waves and electromagnetic radiation. For the most part the book deals with the microscopic theory, although we also introduce the important subject of macroscopic electromagnetism as well. Nearly all questions end with a series of comments whose purpose is to stimulate inductive reasoning and reach various important conclusions arising from the problem. Occasionally, points of historical interest are also mentioned. Both analytical and numerical techniques are used in obtaining and analyzing solutions. All computer calculations are performed with MathematicaCO® and the relevant code is provided in a notebook; either in the solution or the comments.




Problems and Solutions on Electromagnetism


Book Description

Electrostatics - Magnetostatic field and quasi-stationary electromagnetic fields - Circuit analysis - Electromagnetic waves - Relativity, particle-field interactions.




Solved Problems in Classical Electrodynamics and Theory of Relativity


Book Description

This book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students in physics, engineering, astronomy, applied mathematics and for researchers working in related subjects. It is an excellent study tool for those students who would like to work independently on more electrodynamics problems in order to deepen their understanding and problem solving skills. The book discusses main concepts and techniques related to Maxwell's equations, potentials and fields (including Liénard-Wiechert potentials), electromagnetic waves, and the interaction and dynamics of charged point particles. It also includes content on magnetohydrodynamics and plasma, radiation and antennas, special relativity, relativistic kinematics, relativistic dynamics and relativistic-covariant dynamics and general theory of relativity. It contains a wide range of problems, ranging from electrostatics and magnetostatics to the study of the stability of dynamical systems, field theories and black hole orbiting. The book even contains interdisciplinary problems from the fields of electronics, elementary particle theory, antenna design. Detailed, step-by step calculations are presented, meeting the need for a thorough understanding of the reasoning and steps of the calculations by all students, regardless of their level of training. Additionally, numerical solutions are also proposed and accompanied by adjacent graphical representations and even multiple methods of solving the same problem. It is structured in a coherent and unified way, having a deep didactic character, being thus oriented towards a university environment, where the transmission of knowledge in a logical, unified and coherent way is essential. It teaches students how to think about and how to approach solving electrodynamics problems. - Contains a wide range of problems and applications from the fields of electrodynamics and the theory of special relativity. - Presents numerical solutions to problems involving nonlinearities. - Details command lines specific to Mathematica software dedicated to both analytical and numerical calculations, which allows readers to obtain the numerical solutions as well as the related graphical representations.




The Cambridge Companion to Einstein


Book Description

These fourteen essays by leading historians and philosophers of science introduce the reader to the work of Albert Einstein. Following an introduction that places Einstein's work in the context of his life and times, the essays explain his main contributions to physics in terms that are accessible to a general audience, including special and general relativity, quantum physics, statistical physics, and unified field theory. The closing essays explore the relation between Einstein's work and twentieth-century philosophy, as well as his political writings.




Solved Problems in Electromagnetics


Book Description

This book presents the fundamental concepts of electromagnetism through problems with a brief theoretical introduction at the beginning of each chapter. The present book has a strong didactic character. It explains all the mathematical steps and the theoretical concepts connected with the development of the problem. It guides the reader to understand the employed procedures to learn to solve the exercises independently. The exercises are structured in a similar way: The chapters begin with easy problems increasing progressively in the level of difficulty. This book is written for students of physics and engineering in the framework of the new European Plans of Study for Bachelor and Master and also for tutors and lecturers.




A Student's Guide to Maxwell's Equations


Book Description

Gauss's law for electric fields, Gauss's law for magnetic fields, Faraday's law, and the Ampere–Maxwell law are four of the most influential equations in science. In this guide for students, each equation is the subject of an entire chapter, with detailed, plain-language explanations of the physical meaning of each symbol in the equation, for both the integral and differential forms. The final chapter shows how Maxwell's equations may be combined to produce the wave equation, the basis for the electromagnetic theory of light. This book is a wonderful resource for undergraduate and graduate courses in electromagnetism and electromagnetics. A website hosted by the author at www.cambridge.org/9780521701471 contains interactive solutions to every problem in the text as well as audio podcasts to walk students through each chapter.




300 Problems in Special and General Relativity


Book Description

Einstein's theories of special relativity and general relativity form a core part of today's undergraduate (or Masters-level) physics curriculum. This is a supplementary problem book or student's manual, consisting of 150 problems in each of special and general relativity. The problems, which have been developed, tested and refined by the authors over the past two decades, are a mixture of short-form and multi-part extended problems, with hints provided where appropriate. Complete solutions are elaborated for every problem, in a different section of the book; some solutions include brief discussions on their physical or historical significance. Designed as a companion text to complement a main relativity textbook, it does not assume access to any specific textbook. This is a helpful resource for advanced students, for self-study, a source of problems for university teaching assistants, or as inspiration for instructors and examiners constructing problems for their lectures, homework or exams.




Problems and Solutions in Special Relativity and Electromagnetism


Book Description

Vector and tensor analyses -- Elements of the special theory of relativity -- Relativistic mechanics -- Constant electric and magnetic fields in vacuum -- Electromagnetic waves -- Field of moving charges -- Emission of electromagnetic waves