Electromagnetics for Practicing Engineers, Second Edition delivers an expanded, authoritative guide that fully integrates electromagnetic (EM) theory with the most critical real-world design and safety applications. The book transforms abstract EM concepts directly into effective, implementable strategies for solving practical design challenges in complex aerospace, defense, and commercial systems. Practitioners gain the expertise necessary to diagnose and resolve field complications, ensuring system integrity and reliability.
The text meticulously covers fundamental principles, including a thorough review of vector analysis and Coulomb forces, and details the critical roles of capacitance, dielectric materials, and inductance in system design. Detailed methodologies demonstrate the application of Gauss’ Law to field calculations, the use of Laplace’s Equation to resolve potential complications, and the analysis of displacement current and induced EMF in magnetic circuits. New chapters introduce guidance on free-space topics, specifically addressing electromagnetic wave propagation, boundary conditions, and Maxwell’s Equations for high frequency analysis.
This updated reference provides immediate value for practicing electrical engineers, aerospace and defense technologists, RF designers, and advanced students seeking expert applied guidance. The practical case studies and solutions (derived directly from the author’s work) show how to mitigate specific field challenges, such as reducing static charge in liquid fuel systems, achieving accurate fuel sensing in aircraft tanks, or predicting attenuation effects at higher frequencies. This book will equip engineers with the theoretical grounding and technical methods required to handle complex electromagnetics comfortably.
Table of Contents:
1 VECTOR ANALYSIS
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Vector Notation
1.3 Vector Algebra
1.4 Coordinate Systems
1.5 Differential Volume, Surface, and Line Elements
1.6 Vector Fields
1.7 Transformations Between Coordinate Systems
1.8 Problems and Solutions: Vector Analysis
References
2 COULOMB FORCES AND ELECTRIC FIELD INTENSITY
2.1 Coulomb’s Law
2.2 Electric Field Intensity
2.3 Charge Distributions
2.4 Standard Charge Configurations
2.5 Problems: Coulomb Force and E-Field Intensity
References
3 ELECTRIC FLUX AND GAUSS’ LAW
3.1 Net Charge in a Region
3.2 Electric Flux and Flux Density
3.3 Gauss’ Law
3.4 Relation Between Flux Density and Electric Field Intensity
3.5 Special Gaussian Surfaces
3.6 Problems and Solutions: Electric Flux and Gauss’ Law
References
4 DIVERGENCE AND THE DIVERGENCE THEOREM
4.1 Divergence
4.2 Divergence in Cartesian Coordinates
4.3 Divergence of D
4.4 The Del Operator
4.5 Divergence Theorem
4.6 Problems and Solutions: Divergence and the Divergence Theorem
References
5 ENERGY AND ELECTRIC POTENTIAL OF CHARGE SYSTEMS
5.1 Work Done in Moving a Point Charge
5.2 Electric Potential Between Two Points
5.3 Potential of a Point Charge
5.4 Potential of a Charge Distribution
5.5 Gradient
5.6 Relationship Between E and ∇
5.7 Energy in Static Electric Fields
5.8 Problems and Solutions : Energy and Electric Potential of Charge Systems
References
6 CURRENT, CURRENT DENSITY, AND CONDUCTORS
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Charges in Motion
6.3 Convection Current Density
6.4 Conduction Current Density
6.5 Conductivity
6.6 Current
6.7 Resistance
6.8 Current Sheet Density
6.9 Continuity of Current
6.10 Conductor: Dielectric Boundary Conditions
6.11 Problems and Solutions: Current, Current Density, and Conductors
References
7 CAPACITANCE AND DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
7.1 Polarization P and Relative Permittivity
7.2 Fixed Voltage D and E
7.3 Fixed Charge D and E
7.4 Boundary Conditions at the Interface of Two Dielectrics
7.5 Capacitance
7.6 Multiple-Dielectric Capacitors
7.7 Energy Stored in a Capacitor
7.8 Problems and Solutions: Capacitance and Dielectric Materials
References
8 LAPLACE’S EQUATION
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Poisson’s Equation and Laplace’s Equation
8.3 Explicit Forms of Laplace’s Equation
8.4 Uniqueness Theorem
8.5 Mean Value and Maximum Value Theorems
8.6 Cartesian Solution in One Variable
8.7 Cartesian Product Solution
8.8 Cylindrical Product Solution
8.9 Spherical Product Solution
8.10 Problems and Solutions: Laplace’s Equation
References
9 AMPERE’S LAW AND THE MAGNETIC FIELD
9.1 Magnetostatics
9.2 Biot-Savart Law
9.3 Ampere’s Law
9.4 Curl
9.5 Current Density J and ∇ × H
9.6 Magnetic Flux Density B
9.7 Vector Magnetic Potential A
9.8 Stokes’ Theorem
9.9 Problems and Solutions
References
10 FORCES AND TORQUES IN MAGNETIC FIELDS
10.1 Magnetic Force on Particles
10.2 Electric and Magnetic Fields Combined
10.3 Magnetic Force on a Current Element
10.4 Work and Power
10.5 Torque
10.6 Magnetic Moment of a Planar Coil
10.7 Problems and Solutions
References
11 INDUCTANCE AND MAGNETIC CIRCUITS
11.1 Voltage of Self-Induction
11.2 Inductors and Inductance
11.3 Standard Forms
11.4 Internal Inductance
11.5 Magnetic Circuits
11.6 Nonlinearity of the B-H Curve
11.7 Ampere’s Law for Magnetic Circuits
11.8 Cores with Air Gaps
11.9 Multiple Coils
11.10 Parallel Magnetic Circuits
11.11 Problems and Solutions
References
12 DISPLACEMENT CURRENT AND INDUCED EMF
12.1 Displacement Current
12.2 Ratio of JC to JD
12.3 Faraday’s Law
12.4 Conductors in Motion Through Time-Independent Fields
12.5 Conductors in Motion Through Time-Dependent Fields
12.6 Problems and Solutions
References
13 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
13.1 Characteristics of Electromagnetic Waves
13.2 Principles of Electromagnetic Waves
14 BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Boundary Relations for Magnetic Fields
14.3 Current Sheet at the Boundary
14.4 Summary of Boundary Conditions
15 MAXWELL’S EQUATIONS
15.1 Maxwell’s First Equation
15.2 Maxwell’s Second Equation
15.3 Maxwell’s Third Equation
15.4 Maxwell’s Fourt Equation
15.5 Other Important Equations
15.6 A Summary of the Physics-Based Ramifications of Maxwell’s Equations
16 PRACTICAL SOULTIONS TO REAL-WORLD ELECTROMAGNETIC ENGINEERING PROBLEMS
16.1 Anecdotes in Electrostatics
16.2 Anecdotes in Magnetostatics
16.3 Anecdotes in Electromagnetics
16.4 Lessons Learned
16.5 Final Remarks to the Reader
APPENDICES
A SCIENTIFIC PREFIXES
B SCIENTIFIC CONSTANTS
C RULES BY WHICH TO PERFORM VECTOR ANALYSIS
D ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM AND FREQUENCY BAND DESIGNATIONS
E TRANSMISSION LINE EQUATIONS , GENERAL LINE EXPRESSIONS, AND IDEAL LINE EXPRESSIONS
F MAXWELL’S EQUATIONS
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX
About the Author :
earned his B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland in 1953 and worked at RCA Laboratories on early color TV broadcast systems and the first transistor radios. After completing his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin in 1962, he joined the faculty at Iowa State University, where he taught for nearly three decades, originated courses in information theory, error-correcting codes, and analog filter design, and twice received Professor of the Year honors. He was the first at ISU to teach SPICE for circuit analysis, contributed to advances in digital compression and coding methods, and in retirement continued to support students through textbooks, solution manuals, and simulation tools.
