Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Understanding Displacement Vector and Plane Waves

In course

PHYS-201(d): General physics: electromagnetism

The topics covered by the course are concepts of electromagnetism, properties of waves, and fluid mechanics. ...

Description

This lecture covers the concept of the displacement vector D, which is directly determined by free charges and plays a crucial role in calculating the electric field E. The instructor addresses questions related to exercise 6 on sheet 9, focusing on the direction of induced current in specific scenarios. Additionally, the lecture delves into the topic of plane waves, explaining their definition and when to use their expression over normal waves. The session also touches on the significance of the magnetic vector potential, emphasizing its role in finding the magnetic field that satisfies Maxwell's equations. Various questions from students regarding these fundamental concepts are addressed throughout the lecture.

This video is available exclusively on Mediaspace for a restricted audience. Please log in to MediaSpace to access it if you have the necessary permissions.

Watch on Mediaspace

Instructor

Dirk Grundler

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Physics

Electromagnetism: Electrodynamics

Related concepts (32)

Magnetic field

A magnetic field is a vector field that describes the magnetic influence on moving electric charges, electric currents, and magnetic materials. A moving charge in a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to its own velocity and to the magnetic field. A permanent magnet's magnetic field pulls on ferromagnetic materials such as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets.

Electric potential

The electric potential (also called the electric field potential, potential drop, the electrostatic potential) is defined as the amount of work energy needed per unit of electric charge to move this charge from a reference point to the specific point in an electric field. More precisely, it is the energy per unit charge for a test charge that is so small that the disturbance of the field under consideration is negligible.

Electromagnetic field

An electromagnetic field (also EM field or EMF) is a classical (i.e. non-quantum) field produced by moving electric charges. It is the field described by classical electrodynamics (a classical field theory) and is the classical counterpart to the quantized electromagnetic field tensor in quantum electrodynamics (a quantum field theory). The electromagnetic field propagates at the speed of light (in fact, this field can be identified as light) and interacts with charges and currents.

Electric field

An electric field (sometimes E-field) is the physical field that surrounds electrically charged particles and exerts force on all other charged particles in the field, either attracting or repelling them. It also refers to the physical field for a system of charged particles. Electric fields originate from electric charges and time-varying electric currents. Electric fields and magnetic fields are both manifestations of the electromagnetic field, one of the four fundamental interactions (also called forces) of nature.

Maxwell's equations

Maxwell's equations, or Maxwell–Heaviside equations, are a set of coupled partial differential equations that, together with the Lorentz force law, form the foundation of classical electromagnetism, classical optics, and electric circuits. The equations provide a mathematical model for electric, optical, and radio technologies, such as power generation, electric motors, wireless communication, lenses, radar, etc. They describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated by charges, currents, and changes of the fields.

Related lectures (50)

Cosmological Puzzles: Dark Matter and Energy

Explores fundamental cosmological puzzles related to dark matter and energy.

Second Maxwell's equation: Magnetic dipole

Covers Maxwell's equations, magnetic dipoles, vector potential, torque, and field patterns.

Maxwell's Equations: Derivation and Implications

Explores the derivation and implications of the 4th Maxwell's equation, emphasizing the importance of charge conservation and the role of displacement current.

Magnetism: Basics and Phenomena

Explores the basics of magnetism, magnetic fields, and magnetic properties in materials.

Electromagnetism: Fundamentals and Applications