6.641 | Spring 2009 | Graduate

Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Course Description

This course examines electric and magnetic quasistatic forms of Maxwell's equations applied to dielectric, conduction, and magnetization boundary value problems. Topics covered include: electromagnetic forces, force densities, and stress tensors, including magnetization and polarization; thermodynamics of …

This course examines electric and magnetic quasistatic forms of Maxwell’s equations applied to dielectric, conduction, and magnetization boundary value problems. Topics covered include: electromagnetic forces, force densities, and stress tensors, including magnetization and polarization; thermodynamics of electromagnetic fields, equations of motion, and energy conservation; applications to synchronous, induction, and commutator machines; sensors and transducers; microelectromechanical systems; propagation and stability of electromechanical waves; and charge transport phenomena.

Acknowledgments

The instructor would like to thank Thomas Larsen and Matthew Pegler for transcribing into LaTeX the homework problems, homework solutions, and exam solutions.

Learning Resource Types
Problem Sets with Solutions
Exams with Solutions
Lecture Notes
Online Textbook
Course Introduction
Diagram of a magnetohydrodynamic generator.
Magnetohydrodynamic generator from the 2003 final exam (PDF). The C-core magnetic circuit is excited by a field coil that carries a current and has a rectangular channel with moving conductive fluid that passes through the magnetic circuit gap. (Image by Prof. Markus Zahn.)