Module: Electromagnetism

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Electromagnetism
Module Code	PHY1034 (ITS: PS202)
Faculty	Physical Sciences	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Maxwell's equations are introduced through conceptual development of electromagnetism, integration and vector calculus.

Learning Outcomes

1. demonstrate conceptual understanding of electric and magnetic fields
2. apply the superposition principle in the context of electric and magnetic fields
3. set up integrals to evaluate EM quantities due to charge distributions and current configurations
4. link electromagnetism with other areas of physics, e.g. mechanics, optics, and special relativity.
5. solve unseen problems in electromagnetism
6. understand link between electric and magnetic field to basic electric quantities such as current, resistance, voltage, capacitance

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Tutorial	12	No Description
Independent Study	89	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20892	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC3	Best Mark	Y
Module Co-ordinator	Timo Gans	Module Teacher	Sean Kelly

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Take-home problems to be submitted to Loop	10%	As required
Loop Exam	Online tutorial/lecture pretests via Loop	10%	As required
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	80%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Learning Activities
The online platform Loop is used to deliver pre-recorded asynchronous lectures and multiple choice quizzes. These prepare students for each specific topic. Synchronous Zoom tutorials are used for interactive problem solving, through conceptual and selected symbolic and numerical problems, based on the knowledge gained in lectures and quizzes.

Electrostatics
Electric force, field, flux, and potential. Coulomb's Law. Gauss' Law.

Electric fields in matter
Electric dipoles. Polarisation. Capacitance

Magnetostatics
Magnetic force, field, and flux. Biot-Savart law. Ampere's law.

Electromagnetism
Faraday's law. Electromagnetic induction. Maxwell's correction to Ampere's law. Electric fields, magnetic fields & special relativity.

Maxwell's equations
Differential and integral forms of Maxwell's equations.

Mathematical tools
Vector components. Vector addition and subtraction. Line integrals and circulation. Surface and volume integrals. Divergence, gradient, curl.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

David Griffiths: 0, Introduction to Electrodynamics,
Young & Freedman: 0, University Physics,
Schey: 0, Div, grad, curl and all that,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None