D. J. Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics, 4th ed., §§2.1–2.2.
Coulomb's law, field of a charge distribution, superposition, line/surface/volume charge densities, and electrostatic field-line conventions.
EM-01
Course overview
Electric field, potential & electrostatics
Start with measurable electric forces, construct the field of sources as a vector function in space, then advance from electric potential and Gauss's law to interface conditions and electrostatic energy. Each chapter states the model assumptions before using the formulas.
5/5available
Prerequisites
- Vector algebra and Cartesian components
- Single-variable integrals and even/odd symmetry
- Charge, force and SI units (Volume I)
Course outcomes
- Compute fields by Coulomb superposition and integration.
- Relate field, potential and Gauss's law with clear assumptions.
- Apply electrostatic conditions at conductors and interfaces.
- Derive capacitance and electrostatic energy.
Syllabus
Electric field, potential & electrostatics
Start with measurable electric forces, construct the field of sources as a vector function in space, then advance from electric potential and Gauss's law to interface conditions and electrostatic energy. Each chapter states the model assumptions before using the formulas.
- 01→
Coulomb force and electric field
From the force between stationary point charges to the vector field of an arbitrary charge distribution: source/observation coordinates, superposition, dimensional checks, symmetry, the infinite-line integral, point-source singularities, and the difference between the model of a static source and physical measurements with moving probes.
220–280 min · Intermediate → advanced · available - 02→
Electric potential
Start from the mechanical work of a fixed electrostatic field, derive potential differences with their sign, recover the point-charge potential and E=−∇V, use superposition and energy bookkeeping, and state when choosing V(∞)=0 is invalid (notably the infinite uniformly charged line).
230–290 min · Intermediate → advanced · available - 03→
Gauss's law
Define signed electric flux through an oriented closed surface; derive Gauss's law from Coulomb's point-source field and solid angle; distinguish total enclosed charge from the distribution of local electric field; solve spherical, cylindrical and planar symmetry cases, including a uniformly charged ball, an infinite line and an ideal sheet; state precisely when symmetry allows E to leave the surface integral.
240–300 min · Intermediate → advanced · available - 04→
Conductors and electrostatic boundary conditions
Derive electrostatic equilibrium in a conductor, surface charge and the normal external field, then use a pillbox and a thin loop to derive interface jump/continuity conditions. Distinguish a conductor–vacuum boundary from a dielectric–dielectric boundary, total from free charge, and electrostatics from a current-carrying conductor.
240–300 min · Intermediate → advanced · available - 05→
Capacitance and electrostatic energy
Define a two-conductor capacitance from the charge–potential-difference relation and derive plate, spherical and concentric-sphere results under explicit geometry assumptions. Build U=∫V dQ into ½CV² and the vacuum field-energy integral, separate point-source self-energy from finite distributions, and state how linear dielectrics, fixed-Q versus fixed-V operation, nonlinear response and dispersion change the energy bookkeeping.
260–320 min · Intermediate → advanced · available
Reference backbone
References
Core electrodynamics texts support the derivations; the SI brochure fixes units and constants.
E. M. Purcell & D. J. Morin, Electricity and Magnetism, 3rd ed., Ch. 1.
Operational definition of charge/field, inverse-square interaction, symmetry, and superposition.
J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, 3rd ed., Ch. 1.
Continuous-source field integrals, symmetry, distributional limits and the distinction between microscopic and macroscopic descriptions.
BIPM, The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition; CODATA/NIST recommended constants.
SI unit conventions and the distinction between exact SI definitions and experimentally determined permittivity.