Maxwell's Equations in Classical Electromagnetism

Maxwell's microscopic equations = Relate electric and magnetic fields to total charge and total current at the atomic scale Maxwell's macroscopic equations = Define new auxiliary fields for describing large-scale behaviour of matter without considering atomic-scale charges Covariant formulation of Maxwell's equations = Manifests compatibility with special relativity on spacetime Maxwell's equations in curved spacetime = Compatible with general relativity and used in high-energy and gravitational physics

Gauss's law for electricity = Describes the relationship between an electric field and electric charges Gauss's law for magnetism = States that there are no magnetic monopoles, only electric charges Permittivity of free space = Coefficient in Gauss's law for electricity that relates net electric field outflow to enclosed charge Vacuum permeability = Parameter determining the magnetic field in Maxwell's equations

Special relativity and Maxwell's equations = Special relativity was developed to accommodate the invariant speed of light, a consequence of Maxwell's equations Quantum electrodynamics and Maxwell's equations = Maxwell's equations are a classical limit of the more precise theory of quantum electrodynamics Publication of Maxwell's equations = Marked the unification of magnetism, electricity, light, and associated radiation

<p>Electric and magnetic scalar potentials = Preferred for explicitly solving Maxwell's equations as a boundary value problem Equivalent alternative formulations of Maxwell's equations = Also referred to as Maxwell's equations and used in analytical mechanics or quantum mechanics Phenomenological description of electromagnetic response of materials = Requires experimentally determined parameters when using macroscopic equations Classical limit in high-energy physics = Understanding that Maxwell's equations do not provide an exact description but are a classical limit</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Universal applicability vs. common calculations = Microscopic equations have universal applicability but are unwieldy for common calculations Quantum phenomena and spins = Not considered in macroscopic equations which describe large-scale behaviour without atomic-scale charges Unification of previously described phenomena = Resulted from publication of Maxwell's equations describing magnetism, electricity, light, and radiation Invariant speed of light = Consequence of Maxwell's equations leading to development of special relativity by Albert Einstein</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The relationship between electric fields and electric charges</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Special relativity</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>SI units</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Large-scale behavior of matter without atomic-scale charges</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Unification of previously separately described phenomena</p> Signup and view all the answers