/sci/ - Science & Math

[Anonymous No.7040614]

I'm trying to understand Maxwell's Equations so I can at least somewhat be on track with MIT's OCW 6.002.

What knowledge is a prerequisite for understanding this stuff? I honestly don't know what a single variable in the equation represents or where to get its value.

[Anonymous No.7040621]

How much don't you understand? Do you know what cross and dot products are? What about time derivatives, or the del operator?

[Anonymous No.7040625]

>>7040621
None of it. I'm sure that I'm delving into stuff that's far too advanced for my current knowledge, but I'd like to know where to start.

[Anonymous No.7040627]

>>7040614
Linear algebra (vectors) and Multivariate calculus
The wikipedia pages on the laws will tell you the name of the variables.

[Anonymous No.7040630]

>>7040627
I see. I've got quite a while then. I'm really into electronics and wanted to use magnetism for a project that I'm doing, but I'm not even in Univariate Calculus, nor do I have the slightest experience with Linear Algebra (I think, unless you would include some low level Physics stuff LA).

I guess I've got some studying to do...

[Anonymous No.7040888]

>>7040630
The integral form is easier to grasp IMO.
In symmetric cases the integrals are simple.
In orthogonal cases you only need the right hand rule.

[Anonymous No.7041063]

>>7040630
I recommend starting by learning algebraic physics. Giancoli is great in my opinion. You should focus on building physics intuition first. Develop the math as needed.

[Anonymous No.7041080]

>>7040614
Well, obviously vector calculus. Get a feeling for the nabla operations
<div class="math">\mathrm{rot}\mathbf{A} = \nabla\times\mathbf{A} = \left[\begin{matrix}\partial_x \\ \partial_y \\ \partial_z\end{matrix}\right]\times \left[\begin{matrix}A_x \\ A_y \\ A_z\end{matrix}\right] = \left[\begin{matrix}\partial_y A_z - \partial_z A_y \\ \partial_z A_x - \partial_x A_z \\ \partial_x A_y - \partial_y A_x \end{matrix}\right]</div>
<div class="math">\mathrm{div}\mathbf{A} = \nabla\cdot\mathbf{A} = \left[\begin{matrix}\partial_x \\ \partial_y \\ \partial_z\end{matrix}\right]\cdot \left[\begin{matrix}A_x \\ A_y \\ A_z\end{matrix}\right] = \partial_x A_x + \partial_y A_y + \partial_z A_z</div>
<div class="math">\mathrm{grad}\phi = \nabla\phi = \left[\begin{matrix}\partial_x \phi \\ \partial_y \phi \\ \partial_z\phi\end{matrix}\right]</div>

There are some intuitive views on rot, div and grad. I suggest you read it up and try for yourself, it's too much for this thread.

[Anonymous No.7041088]

>>7041080
Gotta love how jsMath is incapable of anything really.

[Anonymous No.7041102]

>>7041063
I disagree, griffiths is much better than Giancoli

[Anonymous No.7041127]

>>7040614
learn the integral form

[Anonymous No.7041130]

>>7040625
Vector calculus. That'll tell you what the important symbols mean. Don't worry, it's pretty easy.

[Anonymous No.7041150]

[Anonymous No.7041482]

>>7041102
This is true once you know the basics. But it sounds like op doesn't know about vector algebra yet.