Electricity and Magnetism

For 50 years, Edward M. Purcell’s classic textbook has introduced students to the world of electricity and magnetism. The third edition has been brought up to date and is now in SI units. It features hundreds of new examples, problems. figures. contains discussions of real life applications. The textbook covers all the standard introductory topics, such as electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves. electric and magnetic fields in matter. Taking a nontraditional approach, magnetism is derived as a relativistic effect. Mathematical concepts are introduced in parallel with the physics topics at hand, making the motivations clear. Macroscopic phenomena are derived rigorously from the underlying microscopic physics. With worked examples, hundreds of illustrations. nearly 600 end of chapter problems and exercises, this textbook is ideal for electricity and magnetism courses. Solutions to the exercises are available for instructors at www.cambridge.org/Purcell Morin.

Review

“Although the basic physics remains largely unchanged, the Purcell and Morin book has many clarifying discussions based on those experimental results, and most chapters end with current applications and a summary. Solutions to the problems represent roughly one-quarter of the text―they are a most welcome addition, particularly for self-study. (Purcell wrote out a solution manual by hand―mainly for instructors.―to accompany his first edition.) “

H. Henry Stroke, New York University for Physics Today

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 ELECTROSTATICS: CHARGES AND FIELDS

CHAPTER 2 THE ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

CHAPTER 3 ELECTRIC FIELDS AROUND CONDUCTORS

CHAPTER 4 ELECTRIC CURRENTS

CHAPTER 5 THE FIELDS OF MOVING CHARGES

CHAPTER 6 THE MAGNETIC FIELD

CHAPTER 7 ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION

CHAPTER 8 ALTERNATING-CURRENT CIRCUITS

CHAPTER 9 MAXWELL’S EQUATIONS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

CHAPTER 10 ELECTRIC FIELDS IN MATTER

CHAPTER 11 MAGNETIC FIELDS IN MATTER

CHAPTER 12 SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS

Appendix A: Differences between SI and Gaussian units

Appendix B: SI units of common quantities

Appendix C: Unit conversions

Appendix D: SI and Gaussian formulas

Appendix E: Exact relations among SI and Gaussian units

Appendix F: Curvilinear coordinates

Appendix H: Radiation by an accelerated charge

Appendix I: Superconductivity

Appendix J: Magnetic resonance

Appendix K: Helpful formulas/facts

About the Author

David Morin is a Senior Lecturer in the Physics Department at Harvard University. He received his A.B. in mathematics from Brown University and his Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics from Harvard University. He is the author of eight books, including Introduction to Classical Mechanics (Cambridge University Press, 2008), Electricity and Magnetism (Cambridge University Press, co-author, 2013), and Probability: For the Enthusiastic Beginner (2016). When not writing textbooks, thinking of math and physics limericks, or conjuring up new problems whose answers involve e or the golden ratio, he can be found running along the Charles River or hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Resources for his books, along with other educational material (including many limericks!), can be found on his Harvard webpage.

His most recent book is “Algebra: For the Enthusiastic Beginner” (split into two volumes), designed for middle-school and high-school students, along with anyone else who is eager to learn some math! It features more than 350 exercises, all with detailed solutions (and in many cases multiple solutions, so that students can learn different ways of approaching problems). Additionally, to lighten things up, there are more than 100 original math limericks! The book is perfect for self-study, home schooling, or as a resource in a standard class. Its detailed explanations emphasize the “why” behind the concepts in algebra, and there are numerous side remarks to help clarify misconceptions. It is both a serious AND a fun book! For more information, including a sampling of the limericks, see the author’s Harvard webpage.