Fields and Waves I
35.210
Spring 1997



Last update - May 9, 1997


Quiz 4 & semester grades

    Individual grades for quiz 4 and your letter grade for the semester are available by alias.


Announcements | Syllabus | Course Reserves | Design Projects | Info


Syllabus sections

General | Assignments | Grading | Schedule


Info sections

F&W I info | References | Links | Miscellaneous



Announcements

May 8 - Quiz 4 grades

    A 84->100; B 73->83; C 63->72; D 53->62; No F's

    It appeared to me that the bonus point totals were not added into your grades. Therefore, I moved all borderlines down two points. The grades listed above already have the 2 point adjustment. I'll probably try to post final grades by alias on Friday (not sure if it will show up on the web, though).

April 24 - Design Problem 2

    See the design problem section for updates on the 2nd design problem.

April 18 - Quiz 3 grades

    A 80->100; B 66->79; C 55->65; D 45->54; F <=44;

April 14 - textbooks left in JEC 5119

    A textbook was left in JEC 5119 last Friday. In addition, somebody picked up Kerim Kalafala's textbook. See me if you have the wrong text or are missing yours.

April 7 - normal incidence simulation

    A matlab program which shows the standing wave pattern as a function of reflection coefficient is in ~crowlt/public/normal_reflection.m on rcs.

March 27 - tether

    More information about the tether experiment on the space shuttle can be found in the January issue of IEEE's Spectrum and some NASA web pages on the tether experiment and the shuttle mission, STS-75.

March 25 - Quiz 2 grade distribution

    A 89->100; B 75->88; C 60->74; D 45->59; F <= 44

February 19 - Quiz 1 grade distribution

    A 70->100; B 60->69; C 50->59; D 40->49; F <= 39

February 4 - Matlab tutorial

    There is a Matlab introduction and tutorial prepared by Jeff Braunstein, an ECSE grad student. The printed version can be obtained from Audrey Hayner for free. There are more Matlab links in the Links section below.


Syllabus

General | Assignments | Grading | Schedule


GENERAL INFORMATION


COURSE MEETINGS:

Lecture:	MWF 9-10 in Sage 3510
Recitation:	Fridays 10-12, 1-3, and 3-5 in JEC 5119
		No recitation during a week with a quiz.
Quizzes: 	Quizzes 1 to 3 will be on Fridays  8-9:50 AM in DCC 318
		(February 14, March 21, April 18)
		Quiz 4 will be during finals week.  
		It only covers material from the last section of the course.

STAFF:

Faculty:
Thomas P. Crowley	JEC 6004, x6087, crowlt@rpi.edu
			office hours: Mon 3:30-5, Wed 10-11:30

Teaching Assistants:
Yu Huang            	huangy6@rpi.edu
			office hours: JEC 6219	Thur 4-6

Chris Scoville		scovic2@rpi.edu
			office hours: JEC 6219	Wed 6-8

Kerim Kalafala		kalafk@rpi.edu
			office hours (weeks of quizzes only) JEC 6012 Wed 2-4

Secretary
Audrey Hayner		JEC 6009, x6019, audrey@ecse.rpi.edu

KEY DATES (Tentative)

February 14	Quiz 1
March 7		Design problem 1 due
March 21	Quiz 2
April 18	Quiz 3
April 30	Design problem 2 due
Finals week	Quiz 4

GRADING SUMMARY

4 Quizzes	       		(100 points each)   	400 points
8 Best (of 10) homeworks        (20 points each)    	160 points
Design Problems          	(50 points each)    	100 points 
No Final
TOTAL							660 points 

HOMEWORK & RECITATIONS

PRE-REQUISITES

78.120	Physics II
78.130	Physics III
65.240	Introduction to Differential Equations
35.201	Circuit Analysis

Advanced Calculus (65.405)is not a pre-requisite, 
but it sure helps if you have taken it.  

TEXT

REQUIRED
David K. Cheng, "Field and Wave Electromagnetics", 2nd edition
Available in the bookstore

OPTIONAL
K.A. Connor and S. Salon - Notes 
Available from Audrey Hayner (JEC 6012) - $10/copy


ASSIGNMENTS


QUIZZES:
    There will be 4 quizzes. Attendance is mandatory and there will be NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES. For students with excused absences from quizzes, the other quizzes will be counted higher. The quizzes will be closed book, but a formula sheet will be provided. Copies of the formula sheets for each quiz will be available by the Wednesday before the quiz. Usually, the quizzes will be strictly in class. However, it is possible that a take-home problem(s) will be handed out for one or two of the quizzes. Further information will be provided with each quiz.

HOMEWORK:
    There will be ten (10) homework assignments. The assignment will be handed out by Wednesday of each week (hopefully Monday). They are due on Friday at 5 PM unless otherwise indicated. For most students, much of this assignment is completed during recitation on Friday. However, it is important that you begin the assignment before Friday since it is not expected that a homework can be completed in 2 hours.
    You are encouraged to work in groups (2 to 4 is a good number) on these assignemnts, but each student is required to hand in the assignment separately. Course staff will be available during the recitations to answer questions (except: Is this correct?"). Provided there is room available, you are welcome to attend the recitation(s) of your choice.

DESIGN PROBLEMS
    There will be two design assignments in addition to the homeworks. These will be open-ended problems with more than one answer possible. They generally will require computer calculations, graphics, or a simple experiment. They are intended to take more time than the homeworks. Assignments will be passed out at least 2 weeks before the due dates. You are encouraged to work in groups of 2 or 3. You only have to turn in one assignment per group.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS
    Suggested practice problems from the text are listed below. They are not to be handed in. The practice problems are the most useful in the text and, as such, should be done.
CHAPTER 2:     1, 19, 23a, 32, 34 
		(also 2, 20, 24, 26, 29 for extra math practice)
CHAPTER 3:     6, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 28, 29, 31, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48
CHAPTER 4:     2, 5, 7, 10, 13
CHAPTER 5:     3
CHAPTER 6:     3, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 32, 35, 36, 38, 42
CHAPTER 7:     2, 7, 10
CHAPTER 8:     5, 12, 16, 29, 30, 33, 37, 40, 43, 44
CHAPTER 9:     8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32           


GRADING


POINT SUMMARY:

4 Quizzes       	(100 points each)   	400 points
8 Best Homeworks        (20 points each)    	160 points
Design Problems         (50 points each)    	100 points 

TOTAL						660 points 

REGRADE REQUESTS:
    If there are any problems with the grading of assignments or quizzes, students should submit the paper along with a written statement describing the points in question. Papers more than three (3) weeks old will not be considered.

GRADING POLICIES:
    The typical grade distribution for this class is 20% A's, 30% B's, 40% C's, and 10% D's and F's. A-F grades will be given for the quizzes so that you know where you stand. The final grade will be based on accumulated points, not an average of quiz A's and B's. We do not follow strict numerical divisions (such as 90-100 = A) in converting numbers to letter grades. Note that most students will do well on the homeworks. As a result, the tests and design problems are usually more critical in determining your grade. When the final grades are calculated, consideration will be given to cases in which a single grade is significantly lower than the others.

    One of the skills we try to teach in this course is the ability to check your answers. As a result, in recitation, we will not usually tell you if an answer is correct, but ask how you checked it. In addition, you can lose extra points for propagating an error through a problem, or for obtaining results that are clearly wrong.

    Late homeworks will generally not be accepted since we post solutions shortly after they are due. Points will be subtracted from late design problems.

    COLLABORATION

    You are encouraged to work with other students on take-home assignments (homeworks, design problems, and take-home portions of quizzes). You can get help from anyone you wish and use any source materials you can find. It is essential that engineers learn to work effectively with their colleagues and not try to do everything themselves. It is recommended that the groups be kept small (2-4 students) to maximize your learning. Simple copying of another's work, while not prohibited, is highly discouraged. It is only by doing problems that you really learn the material. If you don't learn the material, it will show on the in class quiz questions.

    Absolutely no collaboration is allowed during in-class quizzes.


SOLUTIONS AND RETURN OF GRADED MATERIALS:

    Solutions to all quizzes and homeworks will be placed in the library and posted on the bulletin board located between JEC 6007 and JEC 6009 shortly after the assignment is due. The library also will post the solutions electronically. The solution manual for Cheng's text is on reserve in the library (under Professor Connor).

    After grading, your homeworks, design problems, and quizzes will be placed in the mailboxes located near the sixth floor elevator in the JEC.

    Class grades will be posted on the bulletin board where we post other course information. Grades will be listed according to alias, rather than real names. Your alias will be given to you with one of the early assignments. If you wish to change your alias, please e-mail Mrs. Hayner.


STUDENT-TEACHER RELATIONSHIP

    The relationship between student and teacher, like the relationship between any professional colleagues, is built on trust.



SCHEDULE


The course schedule was included in the first day's handout.


Design Projects


Design Problem 2

    April 24, 1997 - Multiple boundary effects

Multiple boundary effects are probably important in a lot of your microwave experiments. Cheng does the 3 region case for normal incidence. The oblique incidence version has got a lot of messy algebra which is why Cheng doesn't do it. I was aware of the effects, but was trying to avoid making the problem too complicated. Its OK to ignore this in your analysis, but as a result, you may get values that don't match the expected value.

Brewster angle experiments are not affected by the multiple boundary effects. Why?

I've written a matlab code that you can use (optional) to include the effects. The code is in ~crowlt/public/oblique_3region.m. It lets you vary one unknown parameter and look at reflection coefficient vs that parameter. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to properly de-bug the code. I have done some checks and it looks OK.



Design Problem 1

    March 3, 1997 clarifications

V1 = 5 Volts.

The design documentation required for the report was not intended to be an algorithm for solving the problem. There is a significant amount of circuit analysis required early in the design. A sample algorithm for solving the problem is:

  • 1. Use circuit analysis to decide on capacitance values that fit the problem criteria. See the Feb. 26 notes about some hints on this step.
  • 2. Use simple formulas such as C=eps*A/d to determine separations between conductors that will roughly give the desired capacitances from step 1, by using simple formulas such as for a parallel plate capacitor. (This is the quick capacitance calculation).
  • 3. Feel free to do an experimental test at this point.
  • 4. Take the separations from step 2 and find the true capacitance using the method of moments or finite difference method. You will probably have to adjust the separations here until you get near the desired C values of part 1.
  • 5. Last step - assuming the Cs from step 3 are a little different than from part 1, go back and do a final prediction for the voltages from the circuit equation.
  • 6. Experimental test.
      February 26 clarification to requirements
  • The voltage amplitude of the driven tube should be between 2.25 and 2.75 Volts.
  • The phase of the driven voltage should differ from the source phase by less than 20 degrees.
  • The voltage amplitude of the undriven tube should be less than 0.25 Volts. Any phase is allowed.
      February 26 Hints
  • One approach to the circuit part of the problem is to set the desired values of voltage amplitudes and phases into the circuit equations, and then solve for the desired capacitances. I tried this, but ran into problems because the voltages are complex or I was giving Maple conflicting requirements. Instead, I would recommend an approach where you assume values for the capacitances and find the voltages. Choose some means of looking at ranges of values so that you can optimize the system.

    Fields and Other Info sources

    F&W I info | References | Links | Miscellaneous


    WHERE TO FIND FIELDS AND WAVES I INFO


    
    ELECTRONIC RESERVES
      Copies of Quizzes, Homeworks, etc. and their solutions from this and recent semesters are maintained by Folsom Library Staff at this location.

      Solutions to last fall's problems are at Profs. Connor and Salon's ELECTRONIC RESERVES

    BULLETIN BOARD
      Fields and Waves I has a bulletin board located at the east end of the JEC 6th floor. Class announcements and solutions will be posted there.
    HANDOUTS
      All handouts will be distributed at lectures. In addition, extra copies will be available in a holder mounted on the wall next to JEC 6002 (next door to Professor Crowley's office (JEC 6004)).


    PRINTED REFERENCES


      Here are some generally useful references for electrical engineers. These may be useful in the design projects. They certainly are useful for practical applications.

      Master Handbook of ELECTRONIC TABLES AND FORMULAS by Martin Clifford -- This is the fifth edition (1992) of a very interesting collection of infor for electrical engineers. There are 25 chapters with such titles as "Filters," "Wire, Cable and Connectors," Analog and Digital Signal Transmission."

      The CRC HANDBOOK of CHEMISTRY and PHYSICS -- This comes out in a new edition every year, just like an almanac. It contains a wealth of information on properties of materials, including electrical properties like conductivity of various wire materials, dielectric constansts of insulators, properties of magnetic alloys, etc. Its bigger than most phone books. Since they come out every year, it is possible to purchase last year's edition at a reduced rate.

      THE ART OF ELECTRONICS by Horowitz and Hill. This book can be found around here because the Physics majors use it in their electronics course. If you know a Physics major, ask to see the book sometime. It has great info on practical electronics.



    LINKS


    Fall 1996 Fields and Waves I

      The Fall 1996 Fields and Waves Homepage has examples of past design problems and a number of useful explanations and links.
      There is a Matlab introduction and tutorial prepared by Jeff Braunstein, an ECSE grad student. The printed version can be obtained from Audrey Hayner for free. There are more Matlab links in the Helpful Info section below.

      Prof. Connor's links

      Prof. Connor has assembled many links on his Fields and Waves page. The rest of this section reproduces most of that list.


    Fields and Waves Courses Throughout the World

    Quite a large number of engineering schools offer courses called Fields and Waves. A partial list includes:

    1. Lines, Fields and Waves
    2. Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
    3. Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
    4. Electromagnetic Fields and Waves Another course page is:
    5. EE 535 - Telecommunications Transmission Technologies, a course from WPI (brought to us by Rob Smith).

      Here is some info and sites about waves.
    1. There is now a collection of information on Waves , that you may, from time-to-time, find useful. Sometime soon, this list will provide simple access to a large number of m-files. For now, only a few are listed.
    2. This is a java applet: Superposition of Waves which shows what waves look like when superimposed. You will need a JAVA enabled brouser to view this applet.

      Helpful Info

      A good introduction to Matlab, for people who have not used it before is available from Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt Matlab Notes

      In addition, MathWorks has a homepage that provides a great deal of information on Matlab. MathWorks Homepage

      There is a column published in alternative newspapers that some of you may be acquainted with that sometimes addresses issues associated with this course. I have to warn the squeamish that the topics and the language are not limited to scietific or usual academic standards. Howevever, I recommend looking at: The Straight Dope Archive You should be able to identify the old columns that relate to this course or to electrical engineering in general. Also, the Straight Dope is now a cable TV show. Look for it.

      Loads of fun for people who like to do a little science at home, some a little on the dangerous side, can be found at a website maintained by Bill Beaty of Seattle: Amateur Scientist. There is also a very good organization, the SOCIETY FOR AMATEUR SCIENTISTS, whose executive director -- Shawn Carlson -- now writes the Amateur Scientist column in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.

      Another tutorial from the math dept at Utah: Info on Matlab from Utah

      Something to try: In my public directory /home/02/connor/public you will find an m-file that animates the interaction of a wave with a material boundary. Try it the next time you are using Matlab. It shows some very interesting phenomena. It was written by a Fields student who wishes to remain anonymous. (M-file name: forfun.m)

      A very useful reference on resistors, capacitors, inductors has been created at Penn State: CEDCC Component Database Server

      From time-to-time, I receive announcements of jobs that may be of interest to ECSE students. I will post these in JOBS FOR ECSE STUDENTS . Isn't that a clever title for this website?



      Finally. Should you wish to learn a little bit about Professor Crowley's research, you can check the homepage for the Plasma Dynamics Lab