Teaching electromagnetism in terms of the potentials instead of the `Maxwell´ equations

Author

Carpenter, C.J.

Author_Institution

Bristol Univ., UK

Volume

36

Issue

2

fYear

1993

fDate

5/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

223

Lastpage

226

Abstract

A questionnaire circulated in Britain has documented the decreasing time spent there in teaching electromagnetic theory, and underlines the need for a reappraisal of what is taught. The advantages of a change of approach are argued. The field is defined by the electrical potential φ and magnetic vector A as computed in most numerical field software packages used as teaching aids, and E and B are viewed as no more than symbols denoting differentials. The energy and momentum are defined as properties of the charges, instead of the fields, and the usual Maxwell equations are not needed

Keywords

computer aided instruction; education; electrical engineering computing; electromagnetic field theory; teaching; CAI; EM field theory; UK; charges; education; electrical potential; electromagnetism; energy; magnetic vector; momentum; questionnaire; software packages; teaching; Circuit theory; Density measurement; Education; Educational institutions; Electric potential; Electrical engineering; Electromagnetic induction; Maxwell equations; Packaging; Power engineering and energy;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Education, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9359

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/13.214702

Filename

214702