This book is derived from modules forming a full course in electricity and magnetism as given by the authors. Thoroughly class tested over many years and incorporating numerous worked examples and problems the book presents the first part of such a course and is focussed on electrostatics, the branch of physics that studies electric charges at rest, and in particular on describing in detail the formalism of the electrostatic field in both vacuum and matter, by constructing step-by-step the complete system of Maxwell's equations, representing the foundation of classical electromagnetism.
The book starts with the definition of the electrization state, describing both the electrisation state of charged and polarized bodies, respectively. After introducing the electrostatic field as physical field having as its source a stationary electric charge, physical quantities characterizing the field are introduced (i.e., intensity and potential of the electrostatic field), demonstrating that the electric field is a potential vector field, an irrotational field with open field lines. Subsequently, the authors explore methods to compute electrostatic field and potential in a vacuum for different discrete or continuous distribution of charges (i.e., superposition method, method based on Gauss' law for electric field, methods based on Poisson and Laplace's equations solving, etc.). The second part of the book discusses how the electric field develops in conductors to an electrostatic equilibrium and the behaviour of the electric field in insulating materials, especially in dielectrics. The latter discussions open the perspectives to understand the physical processes taking place in a dielectric material going from the phenomenological study of dielectrics to the microscopic approach of the polarization state of dielectrics.
As a stand-alone text this book is suitable for students taking a general E&M course or those undertaking a more specialised coursed in electrostatics. The advanced math support required to follow the scientific content of the book is provided through appendixes, and theoretical concepts are consistently blended with examples of real-life applications. It contains numerous worked examples and exercises that help students to secure an excellent assimilation of the knowledge, as well as a deep understanding of the physical phenomena under discussion and representing the most important methods to solve electrostatic problems (i.e., superposition principle for discrete and continuous charge distributions; Gauss's law application; methods for solving Laplace and Poisson equations, etc.).
Key Features:
- Self-contained with mathematical appendices
- Thoroughly class tested
- Numerous examples of applications, worked example problems and exercises
- Formalism of the electrostatic field in vacuum
- Extensive study of the stationary electric charges
