Obtaining Maxwell's equations heuristically
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Starting from the experimental fact that a moving charge experiences the Lorentz force and applying the fundamental principles of simplicity (first order derivatives only) and linearity (superposition principle), we show that the structure of the microscopic Maxwell equations for the electromagnetic fields can be deduced heuristically by using the transformation properties of the fields under space inversion and time reversal. Using the experimental facts of charge conservation and that electromagnetic waves propagate with the speed of light, together with Galilean invariance of the Lorentz force, allows us to finalize Maxwell's equations and to introduce arbitrary electrodynamics units naturally. (C) 2013 American Association of Physics Teachers. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.4768196]
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 120-123 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | American Journal of Physics |
Volume | 81 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2013 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
Scopus | 84872956787 |
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Keywords
Keywords
- electromagnetic field theory, electromagnetic wave propagation, Maxwell equations, physics education, teaching, CONTINUITY EQUATION, INVARIANCE, FORM