Skills

Physics 8: Electrodynamics

14 weeks · 3 milestones

Boundary-value problems, radiation and the relativity of fields. Course 8 of the Varsity Curriculum: Physics. Free sources only.

Part of: Physics · Proves for: UG

Milestone map

3 milestones

Electrostatics and boundary-value problems

5 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Work through the first half of the 8.07 lecture notes. Then solve the 8.07 problem sets for the first half, then quiz 1 timed. Self-check: MIT 8.07 quizzes with solutions.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the 8.07 problem sets for the first half, then quiz 1 timed written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.

What gets checked

Uniqueness is used to justify each method (images, separation).
Boundary conditions are checked at the end.
Quiz 1 is marked against its solution, with the score.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the 8.07 problem sets for the first half, then quiz 1 timed, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 8: Electrodynamics, unit 1: Electrostatics and boundary-value problems
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Uniqueness is used to justify each method (images, separation).
Boundary conditions are checked at the end.
Quiz 1 is marked against its solution, with the score.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Radiation and fields in relativity

5 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Work through the second half of the 8.07 lecture notes. Then solve the 8.07 problem sets for the second half, then quiz 2 timed. Self-check: MIT 8.07 quizzes with solutions.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the 8.07 problem sets for the second half, then quiz 2 timed written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.

What gets checked

Retarded potentials are set up with the right time delay.
Radiated power follows from the Poynting vector.
Quiz 2 is marked against its solution, with the score.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the 8.07 problem sets for the second half, then quiz 2 timed, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 8: Electrodynamics, unit 2: Radiation and fields in relativity
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Retarded potentials are set up with the right time delay.
Radiated power follows from the Poynting vector.
Quiz 2 is marked against its solution, with the score.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Plot the radiation of an oscillating dipole

5 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Make a notebook that computes and plots the fields and radiation pattern of an oscillating electric dipole. Compute the far-field pattern and total power, and compare the power with ⟨P⟩ = μ₀p₀²ω⁴/(12πc), the time average of the Larmor formula.

Proof required

Link the public repo with the notebook, the result with its uncertainty, and a README that says what you did and what limits the result.

What gets checked

Power per solid angle goes as sin²θ, zero along the dipole axis.
Total power matches the formula to a stated accuracy.
Near (kr ≪ 1) and far (kr ≫ 1) zones are told apart.

Common mistakes

A result with no uncertainty.
Code or data that cannot be rerun from the repo.

Powstik Guide

A notebook that computes and plots the fields and radiation pattern of an oscillating electric dipole, in a public repo.

Steps

Write down what you expect before you start.
Compute the far-field pattern and total power, and compare the power with ⟨P⟩ = μ₀p₀²ω⁴/(12πc), the time average of the Larmor formula.
Work out the uncertainty from your own data.
Compare with the accepted value and explain any gap.
Write the README and ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 8: Electrodynamics — Plot the radiation of an oscillating dipole
What I expected:
Method:
Result (value ± uncertainty):
Accepted value and comparison:
What limits the result:

What gets sent back

No uncertainty, or one that is guessed.
Code that does not run.

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

Power per solid angle goes as sin²θ, zero along the dipole axis.
Total power matches the formula to a stated accuracy.
Near (kr ≪ 1) and far (kr ≫ 1) zones are told apart.
The uncertainty is worked out from the data or runs (spread of repeats, instrument limits, fit errors or a range of inputs), not guessed, and it is shown on the result.
Is the physics right, and could someone rerun it from the repo?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Part of

Physics 8: Electrodynamics →

Related outcomes

Milestone map

3 milestones

Electrostatics and boundary-value problems

5 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Work through the first half of the 8.07 lecture notes. Then solve the 8.07 problem sets for the first half, then quiz 1 timed. Self-check: MIT 8.07 quizzes with solutions.

Proof required

What gets checked

Uniqueness is used to justify each method (images, separation).
Boundary conditions are checked at the end.
Quiz 1 is marked against its solution, with the score.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the 8.07 problem sets for the first half, then quiz 1 timed, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 8: Electrodynamics, unit 1: Electrostatics and boundary-value problems
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Uniqueness is used to justify each method (images, separation).
Boundary conditions are checked at the end.
Quiz 1 is marked against its solution, with the score.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Radiation and fields in relativity

5 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Work through the second half of the 8.07 lecture notes. Then solve the 8.07 problem sets for the second half, then quiz 2 timed. Self-check: MIT 8.07 quizzes with solutions.

Proof required

What gets checked

Retarded potentials are set up with the right time delay.
Radiated power follows from the Poynting vector.
Quiz 2 is marked against its solution, with the score.

Common mistakes

Answers copied from the key with no working.
Wrong units or missing signs.

Powstik Guide

A public write-up of the 8.07 problem sets for the second half, then quiz 2 timed, with the self-check shown.

Steps

Study the linked course and chapters.
Solve the problems on your own first.
Check them against the self-check and rework the misses.
Typeset the write-up (LaTeX or a notebook) in a public repo.
Ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 8: Electrodynamics, unit 2: Radiation and fields in relativity
Problems:
Self-check result (matched / reworked):
What I got wrong first and why:

What gets sent back

No working shown.
The self-check result is missing.

Resources

Foundationstart here

Depthgo deeper

What a verifier looks for

Retarded potentials are set up with the right time delay.
Radiated power follows from the Poynting vector.
Quiz 2 is marked against its solution, with the score.
Is the physics right, not just the final number?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.

Plot the radiation of an oscillating dipole

5 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)

Proof required

Link the public repo with the notebook, the result with its uncertainty, and a README that says what you did and what limits the result.

What gets checked

Power per solid angle goes as sin²θ, zero along the dipole axis.
Total power matches the formula to a stated accuracy.
Near (kr ≪ 1) and far (kr ≫ 1) zones are told apart.

Common mistakes

A result with no uncertainty.
Code or data that cannot be rerun from the repo.

Powstik Guide

A notebook that computes and plots the fields and radiation pattern of an oscillating electric dipole, in a public repo.

Steps

Write down what you expect before you start.
Compute the far-field pattern and total power, and compare the power with ⟨P⟩ = μ₀p₀²ω⁴/(12πc), the time average of the Larmor formula.
Work out the uncertainty from your own data.
Compare with the accepted value and explain any gap.
Write the README and ask someone who knows physics to check it.

Template

README
Physics 8: Electrodynamics — Plot the radiation of an oscillating dipole
What I expected:
Method:
Result (value ± uncertainty):
Accepted value and comparison:
What limits the result:

What gets sent back

No uncertainty, or one that is guessed.
Code that does not run.

Resources

Foundationstart here

What a verifier looks for

Power per solid angle goes as sin²θ, zero along the dipole axis.
Total power matches the formula to a stated accuracy.
Near (kr ≪ 1) and far (kr ≫ 1) zones are told apart.
The uncertainty is worked out from the data or runs (spread of repeats, instrument limits, fit errors or a range of inputs), not guessed, and it is shown on the result.
Is the physics right, and could someone rerun it from the repo?

You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.