Literature recommendations for Maxwell's equations

[71GA]

Hello!

I am very interested in learning Maxwells equations, and learn it good. I need a recommendations for books where electrodynamics is presented from scratch
and Maxwell's equations are used to explain most examples. I need examples
like direct current, alternating current, and electro magnetic waves.

 

[Born2bwire]

What level? For undergraduate Griffith's Introduction to Electrodynamics is a decent text in addition to say those from Purcell or Halliday and Resnick.

 

[71GA]

Thank you. Any more sugesstions?

 

[Daverz]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0471345296/?tag=pfamazon01-20. (Mine has a green cover with yellow waves. Other editions may be good as well, but I like the layout of this one.) This presents Maxwell's Equations in their integral form.

 

[waht]

Also check out Feynman's lecture on physics Vol II. That may not be a practical book used to solve problems, but it has very deep insights into the subject.

 

[71GA]

I have heard Feynman has a good sense of humor. Is it true? My professor told me so.

 

[waht]

I have heard Feynman has a good sense of humor. Is it true? My professor told me so.

Very true. Feynman used to pull all kinds of pranks and jokes on people.

 

[jasonRF]

In addition to those mentioned, I really like "electromagnetic vibrations, waves, and radiation" by Bekefi and Barrett. It assumes you already know statics, from something like Halliday and Resnick or Purcell, and it helps if you are comfortable with basic vector calculus (Like from Thomas' calculus) but does waves and elementary radiation extremely well. It is above Halliday and Resnick but below Griffiths. Typsetting looks like from a typewriter, but if you can get past that it is wonderful. It has one of the best treatments of waves in matter (dielectrics, etc.) that I have ever seen.

There are also some nice resources at Prof. Fitzpatrick's site (UT Austin):
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching.html
Here you will find what are essentially books on electromagnetics at 3 levels: lower division (fresh/soph), upper division, and graduate. I would start here first, since they are free.

Note that if you are planning on buying books, that used copies of old editions can usually be found for little money online.

good luck,

jason

 

[bcrowell]

Purcell is the best. Halliday is a lame plug-and-chug book, not suitable for anyone who really wants to understand physics.

 

[71GA]

Purcell is the best. Halliday is a lame plug-and-chug book, not suitable for anyone who really wants to understand physics.

Can you tell me more about why this is? Maybe an example. Thank you

 

[George Jones]

A Student's Guide to Maxwell's Equations by Daniel Fleisch,

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521701473/?tag=pfamazon01-20,

is nice little book.

 

[Daverz]

Can you tell me more about why this is? Maybe an example. Thank you

He may be confusing H&R's Physics with their Fundamentals of Physics, which is a simplified version of H&R's Physics. But I don't think even Fundamentals would be bad for a first pass, and copies of older editions can be had very cheap. These are both Freshman Physics books that present Maxwell's Equations in integral form, not using div, grad or curl.

 

[71GA]

He may be confusing H&R's Physics with their Fundamentals of Physics, which is a simplified version of H&R's Physics. But I don't think even Fundamentals would be bad for a first pass, and copies of older editions can be had very cheap. These are both Freshman Physics books that present Maxwell's Equations in integral form, not using div, grad or curl.

Can you explain why is integral form better than div., grad or curl? Thank you.

 

[Daverz]

Can you explain why is integral form better than div., grad or curl? Thank you.

It's not; it's just a different form of the equations that is appropriate for the freshman physics course that students typically take before they've learned vector calculus.

 

[71GA]

It's not; it's just a different form of the equations that is appropriate for the freshman physics course that students typically take before they've learned vector calculus.

This is in fact what i wanted to hear. What about mathematic book recommendations for good vector calculus? I don't want too detailed book... I need mathematic tools that are often used in Physics soo my book should be for a physicists not mathematician.

With kind regards.

 

[Daverz]

This is in fact what i wanted to hear. What about mathematic book recommendations for good vector calculus? I don't want too detailed book... I need mathematic tools that are often used in Physics soo my book should be for a physicists not mathematician.

Have you had calculus? If so, do you still have your calculus text?

My usual recommendations for E&M books are:

Feynman Lectures vol. 2
Nayfeh & Brussel, Electricty and Magnetism
Schwartz, Principles of Electrodynamics

 

[71GA]

Have you had calculus? If so, do you still have your calculus text?

My usual recommendations for E&M books are:

Feynman Lectures vol. 2
Nayfeh & Brussel, Electricty and Magnetism
Schwartz, Principles of Electrodynamics

I haven't had calculus yet.

 

[Daverz]

I haven't had calculus yet.

You'll need calculus before you can get very far.

Maxwell's equations can be understand conceptually, but you can't calculate much without calculus.