Molly Ayala
Edward M. Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism is a classic textbook that has introduced undergraduate students to the world of electricity and magnetism for 50 years. The book covers the entire breadth of electromagnetism, including electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, and electric and magnetic fields in matter. Purcell's prose goes to the heart of what science should mean and how electromagnetism should be taught. However, some readers have found the book hard to use, especially the second edition, which uses cgs units instead of SI units. The third edition, edited by David J. Morin, has been updated to use SI units and is much easier to use. While the book is designed for students with a strong background in physics and mathematics, it provides an excellent introduction to the subject and is a great choice for anyone looking to learn about classical electromagnetism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward M. Purcell |
| Co-author | David J. Morin |
| Number of Editions | 3 |
| Topics Covered | Electrostatics, Magnetism, Circuits, Electromagnetic Waves, Electric and Magnetic Fields in Matter, Magnetic Field, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating-Current Circuits, Maxwell's Equations, Special Relativity, Superconductivity, Magnetic Resonance |
| Level of Difficulty | Tough |
| Ideal for | Undergraduate freshmen/sophomores |
| Prerequisite | Freshman mechanics, a year of calculus, prior knowledge of vector calculus is recommended |
| Pros | Explains concepts intuitively, has summaries at the beginning of each chapter, has a list of useful equations at the end, extensive use of relativity, ideal for students who prefer topics directly relevant to circuits |
| Cons | Unclear exposition, skips much of the reasoning process behind discoveries in physics, uses cgs units which are hard to convert to SI units, lacks solutions to exercises |
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What You'll Learn
- Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism textbook is designed for physics majors
- The book covers electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, and electric and magnetic fields in matter
- Purcell introduces vector calculus from scratch, but students without prior knowledge may struggle
- The textbook provides an excellent introduction to Maxwell's equations
- The book is highly recommended for freshmen/sophomores looking to learn classical electromagnetism
Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism textbook is designed for physics majors
Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism textbook is a classic text that has been used for 50 years to introduce students to the world of electricity and magnetism. The textbook is designed for students who are physics majors, have taken freshman mechanics, and have a strong mathematics background, including a year of calculus.
The textbook covers all the standard introductory topics in electricity and magnetism, such as electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, and electric and magnetic fields in matter. Purcell's textbook takes a non-traditional approach to the subject matter, deriving magnetism as a relativistic effect. This approach highlights the extensive use of relativity to develop the idea of electromagnetism as the first unified field theory.
The textbook introduces the mathematical concepts in parallel with the physics topics, making the motivations clear. Purcell's textbook also includes a discussion of the underlying microscopic physics that give rise to macroscopic phenomena. The textbook is praised for its clear and intuitive explanations and its treatment of subtle topics that physics students often wonder about. The appendices on electromagnetic radiation, superconductivity, and magnetic resonance are particularly well-regarded.
However, some reviewers note that the textbook can be unclear and that it skips much of the reasoning behind discoveries in physics. The textbook also uses cgs units, which can be a nuisance for students more familiar with SI units. The third edition of the textbook has been updated to use SI units and includes additional examples and problems. Overall, Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism textbook is a valuable resource for physics majors looking for an intuitive and insightful introduction to the world of electricity and magnetism.
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The book covers electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, and electric and magnetic fields in matter
Edward M. Purcell's book 'Electricity and Magnetism' is considered one of the most insightful undergraduate textbooks on the subject. It covers a wide range of topics, including electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, and electric and magnetic fields in matter.
The book starts with the basic concept of electronic charge and builds up neatly, covering electrostatics, steady currents, electric potential, the electric field around conductors, electric currents, and the fields of moving charges. It then moves on to discuss the magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, and alternating-current circuits. Purcell's book provides an excellent introduction to Maxwell's equations and the wave equation of light. The last two chapters focus on polarization and magnetization, exploring how electric and magnetic fields interact with matter.
While some readers appreciate Purcell's clear and consistent writing style, others find the book challenging and unclear. Purcell often skips the reasoning behind discoveries in physics, providing only the final conclusion. Additionally, the book uses cgs units, which can be cumbersome for readers who prefer working with SI units. However, the third edition, edited by Morin, addresses this issue by using SI units.
The textbook is designed for physics majors with a strong mathematical background, including knowledge of vector calculus. It offers practice problems catering to various skill levels and provides summaries and relevant equations at the beginning of each chapter. Purcell's book is praised for its intuitive development and insightful treatment of subtle concepts in electromagnetism, making it a valuable resource for undergraduate students embarking on their journey into classical electromagnetism.
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Purcell introduces vector calculus from scratch, but students without prior knowledge may struggle
Edward M. Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism is a classic textbook that has introduced undergraduate students to the world of electricity and magnetism for 50 years. The book covers the entire breadth of electromagnetism and uses superficial references to quantum mechanics. Purcell introduces vector calculus from scratch, but students without prior knowledge may struggle.
The textbook covers all the standard introductory topics, such as electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, and electric and magnetic fields in matter. Purcell takes a non-traditional approach, deriving magnetism as a relativistic effect. He also discusses the real-life applications of these concepts. The book is designed for physics majors with a strong mathematical background and a substantial high school physics course.
While Purcell introduces vector calculus from the beginning, assuming no prior knowledge, some students may find this approach overwhelming. Prior knowledge of vector calculus is highly recommended to fully grasp the concepts in the book. The book is best suited for students with a strong mathematical preparation and a solid understanding of physics.
The book has received mixed reviews regarding its clarity and exposition. Some readers appreciate Purcell's attempts to provide explanations and context for the topics he covers. However, others find his explanations unclear and feel that he skips over the reasoning process behind discoveries in physics. The book promises to teach the classical picture of electromagnetism but spends a significant amount of time discussing the quantum picture.
Overall, while Purcell's textbook offers valuable insights and covers a wide range of topics in electromagnetism, students without prior knowledge of vector calculus may struggle and should be prepared for a challenging read.
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The textbook provides an excellent introduction to Maxwell's equations
Edward M. Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism is a classic textbook that has introduced students to the world of electricity and magnetism for 50 years. The textbook covers all the standard introductory topics, such as electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, and electric and magnetic fields in matter. Purcell's textbook is known for its excellent introduction to Maxwell's equations.
The textbook begins by introducing the basic concept of electronic charge and building in neat sequential units, from electrostatics, through current and into magnetism. It provides a clear and concise explanation of Maxwell's equations, which are fundamental to understanding electromagnetism. Maxwell's equations are a set of four laws that describe the behaviour of electric and magnetic fields and how they interact with each other and with charges and currents. Purcell's textbook explains these equations in a straightforward and accessible manner, making it a great resource for students approaching this topic for the first time.
The textbook also highlights the extensive use of relativity to develop the idea of electromagnetism as the first unified field theory. This approach provides a deeper understanding of the connections between electricity and magnetism, and how they relate to each other in the context of relativity. Purcell introduces vector calculus from scratch, but it is important to note that students without prior knowledge of vector calculus may find it challenging.
The textbook includes a discussion of the wave equation of light and its derivation, which is closely tied to Maxwell's equations. The final two chapters focus on polarization and magnetization, exploring how electric and magnetic fields interact with matter. These chapters build upon the foundation laid by Maxwell's equations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between electromagnetic fields and matter.
Overall, Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism offers a thorough and accessible introduction to Maxwell's equations, making it an excellent resource for undergraduate students studying classical electromagnetism. The textbook's clear explanations, sequential structure, and practical examples facilitate a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles governing electricity and magnetism.
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The book is highly recommended for freshmen/sophomores looking to learn classical electromagnetism
Edward M. Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism is a highly recommended textbook for freshmen and sophomores looking to learn classical electromagnetism. Purcell's prose goes to the heart of what science should mean and how electromagnetism should be taught. The book covers the entire breadth of electromagnetism and uses superficial references to quantum mechanics. The book is designed for students who are physics majors and have a strong mathematical preparation.
The textbook covers all the standard introductory topics, such as electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, and electric and magnetic fields in matter. Purcell introduces vector calculus from scratch, but students without prior knowledge of vector calculus may find it challenging. The book presents the mathematical tools of vector calculus clearly and introduces mathematical concepts in parallel with the physics topics.
Purcell's book takes a non-traditional approach to magnetism, deriving it as a relativistic effect. The use of cgs units in earlier editions of the book can make it harder to use, but the third edition has been updated to use SI units. The third edition also features hundreds of new examples, problems, and figures, as well as discussions of real-life applications.
Overall, Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism is an excellent resource for freshmen and sophomores looking to gain insight into classical electromagnetism. The book provides a clear and intuitive development of the subject matter, making it a perfect starting point for learning classical electromagnetism.
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Frequently asked questions
Purcell's Electricity and Magnetism is considered a challenging textbook, but it is highly recommended for undergraduate students looking to gain insight into classical electromagnetism.
The textbook is suitable for first and second-year undergraduate students. It is also used as a mandatory supplement for some courses.
Purcell introduces vector calculus from scratch, but students without prior knowledge of this may find it overwhelming. Freshman mechanics and a year of calculus are recommended before tackling Purcell.
The textbook covers electrostatics, magnetism, circuits, electromagnetic waves, electric and magnetic fields in matter, and more.
Purcell's prose goes to the heart of what science should mean and how electromagnetism should be taught. The textbook provides an intuitive development of concepts, with each chapter summarised at the beginning and a list of useful equations at the end.
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