Book Review: Electricity and Magnetism 3rd Edition by E. Purcell & D. Morin
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Hardcover ISBN-13 978-1107014022
This book is an excellent updated introduction to this classic 50 year old text for 1st and 2nd year undergraduate electromagnetism. Starting from the basic concept of electronic charge and building in neat sequential units from electrostatics through current and into magnetism it provides an excellent introduction to Maxwell’s equations. After introducing the derivation of the wave equation of light the last two chapters of the book focus on two important aspects: polarization and its magnetic analogue magnetization by looking at how electric and magnetic fields interact with matter. A set of insightful appendices on key additional topics such as special relativity superconductivity and magnetic resonance are particularly useful.
