Electromagnetics

Applied electromagnetics studies how electric and magnetic fields are generated, stored, guided, reflected, transmitted, and radiated. This section follows the scope of Ulaby and Ravaioli's Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics, moving from waves and phasors into transmission lines, vector analysis, electrostatics, magnetostatics, Maxwell's equations, plane waves, waveguides, antennas, and selected communication and radar systems.

The notes emphasize engineering use: choosing the right coordinate system, converting Maxwell's equations between differential and integral form, recognizing when lumped-circuit assumptions fail, matching impedances, applying boundary conditions, computing stored field energy, and using antenna gain and propagation loss in system calculations. Each detail page includes definitions, key formulas, at least one visual reference, worked examples, runnable code, common mistakes, and cross-links to neighboring mathematics, signals, and introductory physics material.

The electromagnetic spectrum is arranged by wavelength, frequency, and representative sources.

Figure: The electromagnetic spectrum ties circuit-scale oscillations, radio links, optics, and thermal radiation into one continuum. Image: Wikimedia Commons, Inductiveload, public domain.

A coaxial cable cutaway shows conductor, dielectric, shield, and jacket layers.

Figure: A coaxial line makes distributed inductance, capacitance, impedance, and guided waves tangible. Image: Wikimedia Commons, Tkgd2007, CC BY 3.0.

A Yagi-Uda antenna diagram labels reflector, driven element, director, and wavelength-scaled spacing.

Figure: The Yagi-Uda antenna is a compact real-world example of phased current elements producing directional radiation. Image: Wikimedia Commons, Ktims, CC BY-SA 3.0/GFDL.

A large C-band radar dish stands at Kennedy Space Center.

Figure: A radar dish gives remote sensing a physical aperture, beamwidth, and link-budget context. Image: Wikimedia Commons, NASA, public domain.