Electromagnetic Theory Made Easy

P.Mohanan
Department of Electronics, Cochin University of Science & Technology,
Cochin, 682 022.
Abstract- Exploring Electromagnetism and Maxwell's
equations through simple animations and day to day examples.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The field of Electromagnetics is growing in a fast pace

with the emerging technologies. Historical advances of
electromagnetic theory began with Maxwell's work based on
large body of empirical and theoretical knowledge developed
by Gauss, Ampere, Faraday and others. This led to the
prediction of Electric and magnetic phenomenon at
macroscopic level using Maxwell's equations. Thus
Maxwell's equation forms the foundations of modern
electromagnetic theory. The most remarkable comments
about this work are "It is one of the most remarkable
applications of mathematics to physics, that I have ever
seen" by Stokes and "The most outstanding achievement of
19th century science" by Rechard Feyman. With awareness
of historical perspective, a pedagogical approach to make
electromagnetic theory simple through simple animations
and day to day example is the main theme of the paper. The
paper is divided in to two sections first describing the
Maxwell's equations then applying them in a simple
example.

II.
A.

When applied to magnetism the net out ward flow of magnetic

flux out of any closed surface becomes zero as the magnetic
monopoles doesn't exist. Thus Maxwell's' equations in
magnetism concludes that magnetic monopoles doesn't exist.
All these factors are demonstrated vividly by suitable
animations (Fig 1-4)

Fig. 2 Divergence of electric flux from a closed

surface enclosing a charge.

MAXWELL'S EQUATIONS

Divergence equations

Gauss's divergence theorem forms the basis for the first

two divergent equations predicted by Maxwell. Diverging
physically means spreading. The simplest way to explain
divergence is the fragrance from a flower or spray or water
from a fountain. Technical perspective divergence can be
demonstrated from an antenna where electromagnetic energy
is diverging. Some simple examples to illustrate divergence
are shown in Fig.1 to Fig.4. The Gauss law in electricity
states that total normal displacement or electric flux through
a closed surface enclosing the charges is equal to the amount
of charge enclosed by that surface

Fig.3 Animation showing the divergence of blood

from heart is zero.

r--'--"'--~-r

l-------~

~~~~~
~~~~-7

Fig. 1 Divergence of water from a vessel

978-1-4244-1864-0/07/$25.00 2007 IEEE

Fig. 4 Animation shows divergence of Magnetic flux from a

closed surface is zero.

B.
Curl Equations
Curl equations are derived from Faraday's laws of
Electromagnetic induction and Amperes circuital law. The
two Curl equations can be used to solve any electromagnetic
filed problem as the divergent equations are inherent in them
Curl physically means that vector is changing in both
magnitude and direction. Faradays' law of induction states
that time varying magnetic flux passing through a surface
produces an emf around that surface or physically it can be
stated that time varying magnetic flux produces electric
current. Faraday's law is illustrated using simple
galvanometer experiment shown in Fig.5.

By introducing displacement concept the modified Amperes

law states that magnetomotive force around a closed path is
equal to the sum of conduction current and displacement
current through any surface bounded by the path. A simple
example to illustrate the physical concept behind the curl is
shown in Fig.7.

Fig.7 Animation to show the effect of curl

The concept of displacement current is demonstrated in Fig.8.
Fig. 5. Faradays Law

Faraday's law was one of the most famous inventions in the

world. We cannot imagine a world without electricity. All
latest developments in the world from kitchen to space craft
starts from this famous invention.
In developing his theory of electromagnetism, Maxwell
suggested that time varying electric field would produce a
magnetic field. In effect he modified Ampere's circuital law by
introducing displacement current occurring in space. The
physical meaning of Maxwell's magnetic curl equation is that
changing electric field produces magnetic current. By
introducing displacement current he resolved the big problem
of the current flow through the capacitor. This led to the union
of electricity and magnetism and existence of electromagnetic
wave. Displacement current concept in a capacitor is shown in
Fig.6.

Capacitor Plate
A-C Electro st~tic Field
Capacitor Plate

A-CGurrent

Fig. 6. Displacement current in a capacitor

Fig. 8. The concept of displacement current

c.

Electromagnetic wave propagation

The nature of electromagnetic wave propagation is such that

the waves are transverse to the direction of propagation and the
electric magnetic and propagation vectors are perpendicular to
each other. An electromagnetic wave with E= EO expUwt-bz)
and H=HO expUwt-bz) is propagated in a 3 D space is
demonstrated in Fig.9 without the concept of displacement
current. The wave is purely TEM in nature and propagating
with a velocity equal to the velocity of light.

Prqt Mqhan

cr-

~
.~

-.-

trouP

DiJedi.onof
~

Fig. 12. Phase and Group Velocity

IV.
-2D

Fig. 9. Propagation of e.m. wave in 3D space.

A simple approach to give an insight to the concept of group
and phase velocity is depicted in the following animations (Fig.
10-12)

CONCLUSION

An approach to simplify the Maxwell's' equation in the

pedagogical perspective is presented in this paper. The paper
started with simple examples to give physical insight to the
divergence and curl concepts. Propagation ofTEM wave and
concept of phase velocity and group velocity are
demonstrated with simple animations. The author strongly
hopes that these simple examples will help to understand the
foundations in electromagnetic theory very clearly.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

B
. ._ _ A

AIFcX~2c

Fig. 10 Phase and Group Velocity

CREMACUSAT

HI. Moved a distance 2c ! in one sec

Fig. 11 Phase and Group Velocity

The author gratefully acknowledges Dr.K.G. Nair,

Emeritus Professor and founder of Centre for Research in
Electromagnetics and Antennas.