To introduce:
- The fundamental concepts and principles of electricity and magnetism
- The integral form of Maxwell’s equations
- The fundamental concepts and principles of wave phenomena.
- To highlight the many diverse areas of physics in which an understanding of waves is crucial
- The concepts of interference and diffraction.

(LO1) Demonstrate a knowledge of the basic structure of electromagnetism (Maxwell’s equations in integral form), the terminology, sign conventions and units of the basic laws and their inter-relationships.

(LO2) Demonstrate an understanding of how to apply the basic laws of electromagnetism (Maxwell’s equations in integral form) to the solution of simple problems, particularly the application of appropriate methods to problems with high symmetry.

(LO3) Understand Kirchoff’s Laws and Circuit principles.

(LO4) Understand the fundamental principles underlying wave phenomena.

(LO5) Apply those principles to diverse phenomena.

(LO6) Understand wave reflection and transmission, superposition of waves.

(LO7) Understand inteference and diffraction effects.

(LO8) Apply Fourier techniques and understand their link to diffraction patterns.

(S1) Problem solving.

(S2) Collaborative Learning.

Electric charge
Charge density, Electric fields, Coulomb’s law, Electric flux, Gauss’ law (integral form), electric potential, potential energy, potential difference, magnetic fields, Biot-Savart law, Lorentz force, Charged particle motion in magnetic field, Ampere’s law in integral form, Faraday’s and Lenz’s laws. Kirchhoff Laws and basic circuits.

Oscillators
Simple Harmonic Motion, Forced Oscillators, Damped Oscillators, Coupled Oscillators.

Fundamentals
Wave Equation, Phase velocity, wavenumber, wavelength, frequency. Superposition, Reflection and Transmission at Boundaries, Standing Waves, Amplitude, Intensity, Energy.

Examples of Waves
Longitudinal and Transverse Waves. Waves on strings. Sound Waves, Light waves. Waves in elastic media. The Doppler Effect. Impedance. Waves in Cables.

Superposition of Waves (different wavelengths)
Beats, wavepackets, Group Velocity, Bandwidth Theorem.

Elec tromagnetic Waves
EM waves in free space.

Interference Effects
Youngs slits. Convolution. Thin film interference. Optical coatings.

Diffraction
Fraunhofer Diffraction. Single slit diffraction. Effect of single slit diffraction on double slit pattern. Multiple slit diffraction. Reinforcement of single slit diffraction pattern. Students calculate diffraction pattern arising from a double slit experiment. Continuation of Diffraction, Diffraction at a circular aperture. Rayleigh criterion. Diffraction gratings. Phased Arrays. Interferometry. Background material for Rayleigh Criterion and illustrative applications.

Fourier Methods
Synthesis and analysis. Fourier series. Examples of the use of Fourier methods in signal and image analysis. Fourier Transforms. Link of FTs to diffraction patterns.

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture Description: 12 x 2 hours of lectures.

Teaching Method 2 - Problem Based Learning. Description: 12 x 2 hours of problem classes.

Asynchronous learning materials (notes/videos/exercises etc) will be made available to students through the VLE.