1994American Journal of PhysicsRequires access

Dynamic interpretation of Maxwell’s equations

Harry Soodak, Martin S. Tiersten

Open publisher page 3 citations

Abstract

Conventional discussions of Maxwell’s equations in free space have for many years taken a historical approach starting with electrostatics and magnetostatics, and have taught us that the sources of E are electric charge and Ḃ, and the sources of B are electric current and Ė. However, a direct dynamic reading of Maxwell’s differential equations leads unquestionably to the surprisingly different conclusions that the sources of E are electric current and curl B, and the single source of B is curl E. In this dynamic reading of Maxwell’s equations, electric field is generated locally by electric current, and fields propagate away from the current source by the dual mechanisms of curl E generating B locally and curl B generating E locally.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Conventional discussions of Maxwell’s equations in free space have for many years taken a historical approach starting with electrostatics and magnetostatics, and have taught us that the sources of E are electric charge and Ḃ, and the sources of B are electric current and Ė. However, a direct dynamic reading of Maxwell’s differential equations leads unquestionably to the surprisingly different conclusions that the sources of E are electric current and curl B, and the single source of B is curl E. In this dynamic reading of Maxwell’s equations, electric field is generated locally by electric current, and fields propagate away from the current source by the dual mechanisms of curl E generating B locally and curl B generating E locally.

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OpenAlex reports 3 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

Conventional discussions of Maxwell’s equations in free space have for many years taken a historical approach starting with electrostatics and magnetostatics, and have taught us that the sources of E are electric charge and Ḃ, and the sources of B are electric current and Ė. However, a direct dynamic reading of Maxwell’s differential equations leads unquestionably to the surprisingly different conclusions that the sources of E are electric current and curl B, and the single source of B is curl E. In this dynamic reading of Maxwell’s equations, electric field is generated locally by electric current, and fields propagate away from the current source by the dual mechanisms of curl E generating B locally and curl B generating E locally.

Key concepts: Curl (programming language), Maxwell's equations, Physics, Electric field, Electrostatics, Classical mechanics, Inhomogeneous electromagnetic wave equation, Electric current

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