Classical Electromagnetism is built for readers who want to learn about the theory of electricity and magnetism. The text starts in historical order, moving through Coulomb’s law and the magnetic law of Biot-Savart to Maxwell’s unification of physics. Author Jerrold Franklin carefully develops each stage of the theory without oversimplifying. Throughout, he demonstrates how key principles can be defined on a more fundamental basis to enhance reader understanding. The mathematics and physics are unified so that readers learn the material in the context of real physics applications. Foundations of Electrostatics, Further Development of Electrostatics, Methods of Solution in Electrostatics, Spherical and Cylindrical Coordinates, Green’s Functions, Electrostatics in Matter, Magnetostatics, Magnetization and Ferromagnetism, Time Varying Fields, Maxwell’s Equations, Electromagnetic Plane Waves, Wave Guides and Cavities, Electromagnetic Radiation and Scattering, Special Relativity, The Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies For all readers interested in learning about the theory of electricity and magnetism.
Summary: Makes Jackson seem like Casey Stengel
Rating: 5
I’m a physics grad student who has been struggling with J.D. Jackson’s book for a semester now. In my endless search for anything and everything to help explain Jackson’s ‘explanations,’ I came across this fantastic book at the library. Very new, published February 2005, and quite up to date. His explanations are exceedingly clear, derivations easy to follow (though not watered down any), and mathematics precise. He covers all the standard topics- Green’s functions, Legendre and Bessel equations, gauge transformations, waveguides, … all the stuff at the heart of any grad-level E&M course. He even does so at the level of Jackson. But somehow he manages to avoid the 13 pages of math for each concept that Jackson introduces.
I’d strongly recommend this book to any fellow student, whether seeing the material for the first time or studying for quals. You should note, however, that Franklin chooses to use cgs throughout (something which I appreciate- I share his view that SI bogs down the equations and theories in E&M). For what it’s worth…
Summary: classical electromagnetism
Rating: 4
Initially, Franklin introduces each topic in the most general way, and proceeds to explain the "special cases," so as not to overwhelm the learner immediately.
His approach is quite straightforward, which helps one to gain an understanding of the underlying principles without being drowned by unnecessary information.
Summary: Excellent Text
Rating: 5
Put it this way, I was a student of Professor Franklin, the author.
Ch1. Introduces electrostatics from Coulomb’s law and goes on to review vectors and vector calculus. Although I think some of this can be condensed since the book is intended for graduate students, you can really get some insight from it. See for example the derivation of Gauss’s law from Coulomb’s law, I have not seen like it before.
Ch2. Further introduces the potential, the dipoles, and quadrupoles. The treatment of dipoles is superb.
Ch3&4. Now the solution methods to the various classic electrostatic problems starts. So, the Method of Images is introduced, and solutions of various rectangular, spherical, and cylindrical problems are shown. I think about 10 more pages are needed on Spherical Harmonics and Bessel Functions to be thorough. Several ‘difficult’ problems should also put at the end of the chapter for those who just want to see them. The section on Green’s funcions should be pushed back to the next chapter.
Ch5. The treatment of Green’s functions should definitely be changed. This chapter needs about 10 more pages of explanation and about 2 to 3 fully worked examples.
Ch6. Now the subject of electrostatics in matter is treated. Although I understood it and liked it, I still think it needs 2 to 3 more pages.
Ch7&8. Now Magnetism is introduced. A few more diagrams of where each vector is pointing to are absolutely needed! I loved his introduction of the magnetic scalar potential and the various ways it can be used, I simply haven’t seen like it! The subject of magnetism in matter is good, but a several more pages can make it even better.
Ch9. Electriciy and Magnetism are now unified and Maxwell’s equations are introduced in a unique way. Again a few more diagrams and an example or two of how Maxwell’s stress tensor is used are also needed.
Ch10&11. E&M waves are now shown. The treatment of skin depth needs to be more thorough.
Ch12. I think the subject of wave guides and cavities are is well done for most purposes, but to be complete, more pages/applications on the subject can make it a reference.
Ch13. Again here about 5 pages on EM radiation can make it better.
Ch14. Relativity is treated in a unique way, different than what I have seen before. I personally prefer what I was used to.
Ch15&16. The EM of moving bodies and where E&M fits in the modern world is shown (I haven’t studied this carefully to say more).
There are a few typos but not critical at all.
Finally, ‘difficult’ problems should be added to the end of chapter problems for those who want to do them and those who just want to see them.
I should also mention that Franklin uses Gaussian units through the whole book which is nice (mixing SI and Gaussian for students make learning 10 times harder!)
Although the book deserves 4 stars as it stands now, I gave it 5 because I can potentially replace Jackson or at least make Jackson very easy.
PassWord: twilightzone
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