Maxwell’s Equations

MODULE #8
Content

• LC Oscillations

• Maxwell’s Equations

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LC Circuit
Suppose that we are now given a fully charged capacitor and an inductor that are
hooked together in a circuit.

Since the capacitor is fully charged there is a potential difference across it given by Vc
= Q / C. The capacitor will begin to discharge as soon as the switch is closed.

𝑑𝑖 𝑄 𝑑2𝑄 1
−𝐿 − = 0 + 𝑞=0
𝑑𝑡 𝐶 𝑑𝑡 2 𝐿𝐶
This equation is the same as that for the Simple Harmonic Oscillator and the solution
will be similar
𝑞 = 𝑄0 cos(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑)
1
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝜔 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜑 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠.
𝐿𝐶

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LC Circuit
𝑑𝑞
𝐼 𝑡 =− = −𝜔𝑄0 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑 = 𝐼0 sin(𝜔𝑡 + 𝜑)
𝑑𝑡
𝐴𝑡 𝑡 = 0, 𝑄 = 𝑄0 and I = 0; φ = 0.

𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄0 cos 𝜔𝑡

𝐼 𝑡 = 𝐼0 sin 𝜔𝑡

Both the charge on the capacitor and the current in the circuit are
oscillatory.

The maximum charge and the maximum current occur p / (2w)

seconds apart

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LC Circuit
Just as both the charge on the capacitor and the current through the inductor oscillate with time, so does the
energy that is contained in the electric field of the capacitor and the magnetic field of the inductor
Even though the energy content of the electric and magnetic fields are varying with time, the sum of the
two at any given time is a constant

𝑈𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑈𝐸 + 𝑈𝐵

1 𝑄2 𝑄0 2
𝑈𝐸 = = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜔𝑡
2 𝐶 2𝐶

1 2 1 2 2 𝑄0 2
𝑈𝐵 = 𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐼0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑡 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜔𝑡
2 2 2𝐶
𝑄0 2
𝑈𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 =
2𝐶
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LC Circuit

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Maxwell’s Equations
• Published in 1861.

• Maxwell’s equations describe how electric and magnetic

field propagate, interact, and how they are influenced by
objects.

• Maxwell took a set of experimental laws and unified them

into a symmetric, coherent set of equations known as
Maxwell’s equations.

• Maxwell’s equations form the foundation of classical

electrodynamics, classical optics, and electric circuits. They
also underpin all electrical, optical, and radio technology.

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Maxwell’s Equations

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