The Theory of the Electromagnetic Field (Prentice-Hall Physics Series)

A completely self-contained, modern treatment of all the fundamental concepts essential to solving problems in electricity and magnetism, this volume also features numerous conceptual applications. A preliminary chapter offers background in coordinate systems, and six key chapters examine the operational definition of charge and current; the specification of arbitrary distributions of charge and current; the definition of the electromagnetic field and its effect on general charge distributions; the electric field produced by static charges; the magnetic induction field produced by steady currents; and Maxwell's equations in vacuum. These theoretical discussions are expanded in the subsequent chapters, which cover plane electromagnetic waves in vacuum; potential theory; conduction, dielectric polarization, and magnetization; Maxwell's equations in matter; plane electromagnetic waves in linear matter; radiation from prescribed sources in vacuum; and more