1

Lecture 6: Maxwells Equations

Instructor:
Dr. Gleb V. Tcheslavski
Contact: gleb@ee.lamar.edu
Office Hours: Room 2030
Class web site:
www.ee.lamar.edu/gleb/em/In
dex.htm

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

Maxwells equations
The behavior of electric and magnetic waves can be fully described by a set
of four equations (which we have learned already).
Faradays Law of induction

Amperes Law

Gausss Law for electricity

Gausss Law for magnetism

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

B
t

(6.2.1)

D
H J
t

(6.2.2)

gD v

(6.2.3)

gB 0

(6.2.4)

Fall 2008

Maxwells equations
And the constitutive relations:

D E

(6.3.1)

B H

(6.3.2)

J E

(6.3.3)

They relate the electromagnetic field to the properties of the material, in

which the field exists. Together with the Maxwells equations, the
constitutive relations completely describe the electromagnetic field.
Even the EM fields in a nonlinear media can be described through a
nonlinearity existing in the constitutive relations.
ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

Maxwells equations
Integral form
Faradays Law of induction

B
gds
t
s

E gdl

Amperes Law

D
L H gdl s t J gds

Gausss Law for electricity

(6.4.3)

Bgds 0

(6.4.4)

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

(6.4.2)

Dgds dv

Gausss Law for magnetism

(6.4.1)

Fall 2008

Maxwells equations
Example 6.1: In a conductive material we may assume that the conductive
current density is much greater than the displacement current density. Show that
the Maxwells equations can be put in a form of a Diffusion equation in this
material.
B
(6.5.1)
We can write:
E

and, neglecting the

displacement current:

H J E

(6.5.2)

Taking curl of (6.5.2):

H E

(6.5.3)

2 B
B
B
g
0
t

(6.5.4)

Expanding the LHS:

The first term is zero and

B
B 0
t
2

Is the diffusion equation with a diffusion coefficient D = 1/(0)

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.5.5)

Maxwells equations
Example 6.2: Solve the diffusion equation for the case of the magnetic flux
density Bx(z,t) near a planar vacuum-copper interface, assuming for copper: =
0 and = 5.8 x 107 S/m. Assume that a 60-Hz time-harmonic EM signal is
applied.
Assuming ejt time-variation, the diffusion equation is transformed to the
ordinary differential equation:

d 2 Bx ( z )
j 0 Bx ( z )
2
dz

(6.6.1)

Where z is the normal coordinate to the boundary. Assuming a variation in

the z-direction to be Bx(z) = B0e-z, we write:

2 j0 j

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

j0

(6.6.2)

Maxwells equations
The magnitude of the magnetic flux density decays exponentially in the z
direction from the surface into the conductor

Bx ( z ) B0e z
where

f 0 60 4 10
7 5.8
107 117.2
m 1

The quantity = 1/ is called a skin depth - the

distance over which the current (or field) falls to 1/e of
its original value.
For copper, = 8.5 mm.
ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.7.1)

(6.7.2)

Maxwells equations
Example 6.3: Derive the equation of continuity starting from the Maxwells equations

gD v

(6.8.1)

Taking time derivatives:

v
D
gD g
t
t
t

(6.8.2)

From the Amperes law

D
H J
t

(6.8.3)

v
g H gJ
t

(6.8.4)

v
gJ
t

(6.8.5)

The Gausss law:

Therefore:

The equation of continuity:

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

Poyntings Theorem
It is frequently needed to determine the direction the power is flowing. The
Poyntings Theorem is the tool for such tasks.
We consider an arbitrary
shaped volume:
Recall:

B
E
t
D
H J
t

(6.9.1)

(6.9.2)

We take the scalar product of E and subtract it from the scalar product of H.

B
D

H g E E g H H g E g J
t
t

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.9.3)

10

Poyntings Theorem
Using the vector identity

Therefore:

g( A B ) B g A Ag B

(6.10.1)

B
D
g( E H ) H g E g E gJ
t
t

(6.10.2)

Applying the constitutive relations to the terms involving time derivatives, we get:

B
D
1
1
H g Eg

H
g
H

E
g
E

H 2 E2

t
t
2 t
t 2
Combining (6.9.2) and (6.9.3) and integrating both sides over the same v

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.10.3)

11

Poyntings Theorem
g( E H )dv

Vv

1
2
2

E
dv E gJdv

t Vv 2
Vv

(6.11.1)

Application of divergence theorem and the Ohms law lead to the PT:

( E H )gds

Vs

Here

1
2
2
2

E
dv

E
dv

t Vv 2
Vv

S EH

is the Poynting vector the power density and the

direction of the radiated EM fields in W/m2.

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.11.3)

(6.11.2)

12

Poyntings Theorem
The Poyntings Theorem states that the power that leaves a region is
equal to the temporal decay in the energy that is stored within the
volume minus the power that is dissipated as heat within it energy
conservation.
EM energy density is

Power loss density is

1
w H 2 E 2
2

(6.12.1)

pL E 2

(6.12.2)

The differential form of the Poyntings Theorem:

w
gS
pL
t
ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.12.3)

13

Poyntings Theorem
Example 6.4: Using the Poyntings Theorem,
calculate the power that is dissipated in the
resistor as heat. Neglect the magnetic field that
is confined within the resistor and calculate its
value only at the surface. Assume that the
conducting surfaces at the top and the bottom of
the resistor are equipotential and the resistors
radius is much less than its length.
The magnitude of the electric field is

E V0 L

(6.13.1)

and it is in the direction of the current.

The magnitude of the magnetic field intensity at the outer surface of the resistor:

H I 2 a
ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.13.2)

14

Poyntings Theorem
The Poyntings vector

S EH

(6.14.1)

is into the resistor. There is NO energy stored in the

resistor. The magnitude of the current density is in the
direction of a current and, therefore, the electric field.

I
J 2
a
The PT:

(6.14.2)

V0 I
d
I V0 2

2 aL (0 0)dv 2 a L
L 2 a
dt Vv
a L
V0 I V0 I

The electromagnetic energy of a battery is completely absorbed with

the resistor in form of heat.
ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.14.3)
(6.14.4)

15

Poyntings Theorem
Example 6.5: Using Poyntings Theorem,
calculate the power that is flowing through
the surface area at the radial edge of a
capacitor. Neglect the ohmic losses in the
wires, assume that the radius of the
plates is much greater than the
separation between them: a >> b.

Assuming the electric field E is uniform and confined between the plates, the total
electric energy stored in the capacitor is:

E2 2
W
a b
2
The total magnetic energy stored in the capacitor is zero.

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.15.1)

16

Poyntings Theorem
The time derivative of the electric energy is

dW
dE
a 2bE
dt
dt

(6.16.1)

This is the only nonzero term on the RHS of PT since an ideal capacitor does not
dissipate energy.
We express next the time-varying magnetic field intensity in terms of the
displacement current. Since no conduction current exists in an ideal capacitor:

H gdl
Vs

Therefore:

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

2 aH

E
gds
t

dE 2
a dE
a H
dt
2 dt
Fall 2008

(6.16.2)

(6.16.3)

17

Poyntings Theorem
The power flow would be:

PS
E H gds

(6.17.1)

ds 2 abur

(6.17.2)

S gur 1

(6.17.3)

Vs

In our situation:
and
Therefore:
We observe that

dE
PS 2 abEH a bE
dt
dW
PS
dt
2

The energy is conserved in the circuit.

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.17.4)

(6.17.5)

18

Time-harmonic EM fields
Frequently, a temporal variation of EM fields is harmonic; therefore,
we may use a phasor representation:
E ( x, y, z , t ) Re E ( x, y, z )e j t

(6.18.1)

H ( x, y, z , t ) Re H ( x, y, z )e j t

(6.18.2)

It may be a phase angle between the electric and the magnetic fields
incorporated into E(x,y,z) and H(x,y,z).
Maxwells Eqn in
phasor form:

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

E (r ) j H (r )

(6.18.3)

H (r ) j E (r ) J (r )

(6.18.4)

gE (r ) v (r )

(6.18.5)

gB (r ) 0

(6.18.6)

Fall 2008

19

Time-harmonic EM fields
Power is a real quantity and, keeping in mind that:

H (r )e jt Re E ( r )e jt H (r )e jt
Re E ( r )e j t Re
Re A

Since
Therefore:

A A
2

(6.19.1)

complex conjugate
(6.19.2)

E (r ) E * (r ) H ( r ) H * ( r )
Re E ( r ) Re H (r )

2
2

E ( r ) H * ( r ) E * ( r ) H ( r ) E ( r ) H ( r ) E * (r ) H * ( r )

(6.19.3)

Taking the time average, we obtain the average power as:

1
S av (r ) Re E (r ) H * (r )
2
ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.19.4)

20

Time-harmonic EM fields
Therefore, the Poyntings theorem in phasors is:

E (r ) H

Vs

(r ) gds j H 2 E 2 dv E 2 dv

Total power radiated

from the volume

Vv

The energy stored

within the volume

Indicates that the power (energy) is reactive

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

Vv

The power dissipated

within the volume

(6.20.1)

21

Time-harmonic EM fields
Example 6.6: Compute the frequency at which the conduction current equals the
displacement current in copper.
Using the Amperes law in the phasor form, we write:

H (r ) J ( r ) j E (r )
Since
and
Therefore:
Finally:

J E
J (r ) J d (r ) E (r ) j E (r )

5.8 107
f

1.04 1018 Hz

2 2 0 2 1 10
9
36

At much higher frequencies, cooper (a good conductor) acts like a dielectric.

ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.21.1)
(6.21.2)
(6.21.3)
(6.21.4)

(6.21.5)

22

Time-harmonic EM fields
Example 6.7: The fields in a free space are:

uz E
4 z

E 10 cos t
u
;

x
3
120

(6.22.1)

Determine the Poynting vector if the frequency is 500 MHz.

In a phasor notation:

E (r ) 10e

4 z
3

10 j 43 z
u x H (r )
e uy
120

(6.22.2)

And the Poynting vector is:

1
102
*
Sav (r ) Re E (r ) H (r )
u z 0.133u z
2
2 120
HW 5 is ready
ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008

(6.22.3)

23

What is diffusion equation?

The diffusion equation is a partial differential equation which
describes density fluctuations in a material undergoing diffusion.
Diffusion is the movement of
particles of a substance from an
area of high concentration to an
area of low concentration, resulting
in the uniform distribution of the
substance.

Similarly, a flow of free charges in a material, where a charge difference

between two locations exists, can be described by the diffusion equation.
Back
ELEN 3371 Electromagnetics

Fall 2008