The application of computers to undergraduate education in electromagnetics in South Africa

Summary form only given. The application of computers to undergraduate teaching in electromagnetics in South African universities is discussed. One of the most basic problems students encounter is the inability to visualize fields spatially. In order to overcome this problem, students have to write their own programs to draw vector fields, as opposed to using existing packages. At a more advanced level, finite element, finite difference, and boundary-element methods are used to solve real problems starting with simple geometries such as capacitance problems, wires, bent wires, etc. Simple programs are used to calculate radiation patterns. In the more advanced elective undergraduate courses, use of popular commercial computer programs is common. In antenna courses these include NEC2, while Supercompact, Touchstone, and Puff are used in microwave circuits courses.<>