Corrections

Minor corrections for the 2nd (and later) printings:

1) On page 3 in Chapter 1, three lines from the bottom of the page, the line
beginning
with �to use...� has an extraneous �a� prior to the word �either� (the line should
read, �...
to use either arrows or �field lines� that point in the direction of...�).
2) On page 45 in Chapter 2, in the second line of the paragraph beginning, �Using
the
definition of the vector cross-product...,� the expression �a x b� at the very
beginning of
the line should be enclosed with vertical bars.
3) On page 96 in Chapter 4, in the fifth line of the paragraph beginning with
�Comparing
notes with your friend...,� the word �addition� is misspelled - the second �t�
should be
removed.
4) On page 108 in Chapter 4, in the equation just below the words �And since B has
only...,� the three-line equals symbol (representing �is defined as�) should be a
regular
two-line equals symbol (=).
5) On page 121, the references to Equation 5.9 should say �Poisson�s Equation.�
Thus
the final paragraph should read, �This is called Poisson�s Equation, and it is
often the
best way to find the electrostatic field when you are not able to construct a
special
Gaussian surface. In such cases, it may be possible to solve Poisson�s Equation for
the
electric potential V and then determine E by taking the gradient of the potential.�
Major (potentially life-saving) addition to the 2nd (and later) printings:
1) On the �Acknowledgments� page (just after the sentence ending with �patient
support�):
�And speaking of patience, the amazing Jill Gianola surely holds the modern-day
record.�
Corrected in 3rd printing:
Nothing (this printing happened really quickly after the 2nd)
Substantive correction for the 4th printing:
1) On page 54 in Chapter 2, the first sentence after Equation 2.8 should read,
�...since
the magnetic field makes circular loops around the wire, it has no z-component and
no
radial component (although it does have a radial dependence, since the field
weakens
with distance from the wire). Thus Bz and Br both equal zero in this case, leaving
only
the phi-component.�
Review of Coordinate Systems
A good understanding of coordinate systems can be very helpful in solving problems
related to Maxwell�s Equations. The three most common coordinate systems are
rectangular (x, y, z), cylindrical (r,f , z), and spherical (r, ? , f ).
Unit vectors in rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical coordinates
In rectangular coordinates a point P is specified by x,
y, and z, where these values are all measured from the
origin (see figure at right). A vector at the point P is
specified in terms of three mutually perpendicular
components with unit vectors i, j, and k � � � (also called
�
x, �
y, and �
z ). The unit vectors i, j, and k � � � form a righthanded set; that is, if you
push i into j � � with your right
hand, your right thumb will point along k direction. �

In cylindrical coordinates a point P is specified by

r,f , z, where f is measured from the x axis (or x-z
plane) (see figure at right). A vector at the point P
is specified in terms of three mutually perpendicular
components with unit vectors perpendicular to
the cylinder of radius r, perpendicular to the
plane through the z axis at angle
r�
f�
f , and
perpendicular to the x-y plane at distance z. The
unit vectors r , f , form a right-handed set.
z�
� � z�
In spherical coordinates a point P is specified by
r, ? , f , where r is measured from the origin, ? is
measured from the z axis, and f is measured from
the axis (or x-z plane) (see figure at right). With
axis up,
x
z ? is sometimes called the zenith angle
and f the azimuth angle. A vector at the point P
is specified in terms of three mutually
perpendicular components with unit vectors
perpendicular to the sphere of radius r,
perpendicular to the cone of angle
r�
?
�
? , and
perpendicular to the plane through the z axis at
angle
f�
f . The unit vectors form a righthanded set.
r ?, f� � �,
Infinitesimal lengths and volumes
An infinitesimal length in the rectangular system is given by
2 2 2 d L = d x + d y + d z (1)
and an infinitesimal volume by
d v = d x d y d z (2)
In the cylindrical system the corresponding quantities are
2 2 2 2 d L = d r + r df + d z (3)
and d v = d r r df d z (4)
In the spherical system we have
2 2 2 2 2 2 d L = d r + r d? + r sin ? df (5)
and d v = dr r d? r sin ? df (6)
Direction cosines and coordinate-system transformation
As shown in the figure on the right, the
projection x of the scalar distance r on the x axis
is given by r cosa where a is the angle
between r and the x axis. The projection of r o
the y axis is given by
n
r co � nd the
projection on the z axis by
s , a
r cos ? . Note that
? = ? so cos ? = cos ? .
The quantities cos a , cos � , and cos ? are
called the direction cosines. From the theorem
of Pythagoras,
cos cos cos 1 2 2 2 a + � + ? = (7)
The scalar distance r of a spherical coordinate
system transforms into rectangular coordinate
distance
x = r cosa = r sin? cosf (8)
y = r cos � = r sin ? sin f (9)
z = r cos ? = r cos? (10)
from which
cos a = sin ? cosf (11)
cos � = sin? sin f direction cosines (12)
cos ? = cos ? (13)
As the converse of (8), (9), and (10), the spherical coordinate values (r, ? , f )
may be
expressed in terms of rectangular coordinate distances as follows:

0 2 2 2
r = x + y + z r = (14)
cos (0 ) 2 2 2
1 ? = ? = p
+ +
= -
x y z
z (15)
x
1 y tan - f = (16)
From these and similar coordinate transformations of spherical to rectangular and
rectangular to spherical coordinates, we may express a vector A at some point P
with
spherical components as the rectangular components , where