Introduction to Engineering Electromagnetics

[vg19]

Hey,

It seems as though there are many books on electromagnetism out there, but most that I look at have mixed reviews. Before spending money on a book, would you happen to have any reccomendations on a solid introductory textbook on electromagnetics?

Thanks

 

[marcusl]

Give us a little more information so we can make the best recommendation for you. What year are you? (in college?) Have you had previous E&M classes? Is this for self-study, or as a supplement to a course text? You mention engineering. Are you interested primarily in engineering E&M, and applications, or more theoretical and physics-based?

 

[vg19]

Im currently in 2nd year Elec Eng. We do have a course text: Engineering Electromagnetics by Hayt and Buck. I have yet to purchase yet as we do have a copy available on reserve in the library.

The only other experience I have with electromagnetism would be First Year Physics.

At this point, I am not too concerned with applications, but a text that is very clear in its explanations of concepts with well guided examples.

From our course webpage: "This course focuses on: electrostatics, magnetostatics, and classical electrodynamics, as well as related topics from vector analysis, mathematical physics and electrical engineering."

Outline of Topics: 1. Introduction

2. Vector algebra and vector analysis; coordinate systems (revision)

3. Electrostatics and dielectric polarization

4. Magnetostatics and magnetic materials

5. Laplace and Poisson equations

6. Time-varying fields and Maxwell’s equations


Just like Alexander and Sadiku's Fundamentals of Electric Circuits has attained amazing reviews, I guess I am looking for a similar text.

 

[marcusl]

Hmm, I'm familiar with physics texts rather than engineering ones. Since you already had 1st year E&M (at level equivalent to Halliday & Resnick...?), I'd recommend the following:
1. Reitz & Milford, Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory. (I have 1st edition). Light on mathematical derivations and many people dislike it for that, but straightforward to read and definitely has an engineering flavor. Good sections on magnetism, circuits, but I don't think it covers waveguides.
2. Schwartz, Principles of Electrodynamics. If your up for something more challenging, this is between an undergrad and grad level in difficulty, but beyond grad level in sophistication. Written by a Nobel Prize winner who shares wonderful insights into the beauty and unity of electricity and magnetism. A great book if you can get through it, but be prepared that the route to revelation is through relativitistic 4-vectors and the electromagnetic tensor. Excellent coverage of radiation, includes a short chapter on waveguides, but is not engineering oriented.
3. As for engineering E&M books, I've flipped through one by Balanis at the bookstore that looked good. You'll have to look up its name. His Antennas book is a masterpiece --comprehensive, clear, easy to understand, few errors-- so I'm betting his EEM book would be good, too.

Maybe someone else can chime in with more...

 

[las3rjock]

Hayt & Buck is a pretty standard engineering textbook for undergraduate electromagnetics. You may want to consider supplementing it with Griffiths' Introduction to Electrodynamics, which is a physics-oriented text written at roughly the same level. Griffiths is very good at explaining concepts and solving useful example problems, and it covers all of the topics that you listed in the outline.

Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics by Balanis is a fairly standard graduate-level engineering electromagnetics textbook. I have heard that it is a decent textbook for a course at that level, but it may be a bit ambitious to use it at the undergraduate level.