The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, full year, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information click on the Timetable button at the bottom of this page.

Electromagnetic Theory 331 (620.331)

Outcomes: Students should gain an understanding of the fundamental theory and practical significance of electro-magnetism, as well as an appreciation of the importance of understanding fundamentals in continuous learning. They gain an ability to apply the acquired knowledge to analyse electro-magnetic systems and to identify, formulate and solve problems of practical relevance in electromagnetics. They also enhance their skills in sourcing information, in teamwork and group communication, in written communication and in analysis of engineering design.

Content: The unit content develops the general theory of electro-magnetism based on Maxwell’s equations incorporating vector calculus, and illustrates the theory using applications, for example, in communications and in consumer electronics, and introduces practical techniques for solving problems in electro-magnetism. This comprises the following topics: introduction to vector calculus; electrostatics: Gauss’s Law, electric potential, polarisation, energy stored in an electric field, steady current flow, non-uniform resistance and capacitance, boundary conditions, Poisson’s equation and Laplace’s equation; magnetostatics: Biot-Savart Law, Ampere’s Law, magnetic scalar and magnetic vector potential, magnetisation, boundary conditions, energy stored in a magnetic field, inductance and mutual inductance, review of magnetic circuits; time-varying electromagnetic fields: Faraday’s law, displacement current, time-varying Maxwell’s equations, electric potential and vector magnetic potential under time-varying conditions; plane wave propagation: phasor description of time-harmonic waves, propagation constant, intrinsic impedance, plane waves in free space and in conducting materials, skin effect, Poynting vector, interface phenomena, reflection and transmission coefficients, standing waves, standing wave ratio; transmission lines: lossless and distortionless transmission lines, propagation constant, characteristic impedance, input impedance, standing wave ratio.

Assessment: Students’ understanding of the theory and practical significance of electromagnetism is assessed as well as their ability to solve practical problems, and is conducted through the following means: (i) open- and closed-book tests held during semester (providing feedback on progress); (ii) end-of-semester examination (measuring understanding and problem-solving ability); (iii) group laboratory and assignment work (measuring understanding, ability to source information, and the skills of group communication, written communication, analysis of engineering design and problem solving).

Web page: http://swww.ee.uwa.edu.au/~et331/

Contact hours: 57 (lectures: 36 hrs; tutorials: 18 hrs; labs: 3 hrs)

Prerequisites: Physics 101 or Physics 100, Mathematics 217 and Mathematics 218

Textbook

Sadiku, M. N. O. Elements of Electromagnetics, 3rd ed.: OUP 2001