What is Electrodynamics: Definition and 416 Discussions

Electromagnetism is a branch of physics involving the study of the electromagnetic force, a type of physical interaction that occurs between electrically charged particles. The electromagnetic force is carried by electromagnetic fields composed of electric fields and magnetic fields, and it is responsible for electromagnetic radiation such as light. It is one of the four fundamental interactions (commonly called forces) in nature, together with the strong interaction, the weak interaction, and gravitation. At high energy, the weak force and electromagnetic force are unified as a single electroweak force.

Electromagnetic phenomena are defined in terms of the electromagnetic force, sometimes called the Lorentz force, which includes both electricity and magnetism as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. The electromagnetic force plays a major role in determining the internal properties of most objects encountered in daily life. The electromagnetic attraction between atomic nuclei and their orbital electrons holds atoms together. Electromagnetic forces are responsible for the chemical bonds between atoms which create molecules, and intermolecular forces. The electromagnetic force governs all chemical processes, which arise from interactions between the electrons of neighboring atoms. Electromagnetism is very widely used in modern technology, and electromagnetic theory is the basis of electric power engineering and electronics including digital technology.
There are numerous mathematical descriptions of the electromagnetic field. Most prominently, Maxwell's equations describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated and altered by each other and by charges and currents.
The theoretical implications of electromagnetism, particularly the establishment of the speed of light based on properties of the "medium" of propagation (permeability and permittivity), led to the development of special relativity by Albert Einstein in 1905.

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  1. I

    ? is to QM as Jackson is to electrodynamics.

    I've been planning to get myself a minilibrary consisting of the classic books in various subjects. So far I've decided to get Goldstein for classical mechanics and Jackson for electrodynamics. On the top of those I think I should have books of "similiar status" for QM, statistical physics...
  2. O

    Homepage about Electrodynamics

    Listen up guys... I am new on this forum... I'm danish and i currently go in the 11th grade or as we call it here: Gymnasium... Here is my problem, I am making a homepage as a physics project about electris and first of all i need to know what the smartest way to design this site. There...
  3. S

    Electrodynamics and Relativity Paradox?

    I have been thinking about this problem for a few days and it's been keeping me up; I must be missing something, I just don't know what. I would appreciate anyone shedding some light on this: Assume an inertial frame of reference and all external fields are negligible. 1. Say you have...
  4. M

    Reference Book Griffiths-Introduction to Electrodynamics

    I am looking for a reference book to use besides Griffiths. I find the explanations in Griffiths to be disconnected, and I have to work very very hard to make out what he is trying to explain. And then when I try the problems in the book I am handicapped (completely stuck). Most of the books I...
  5. T

    Can E and B be perpendicular in different reference frames?

    I hope I am in the right forum. In relativistic electrodynamics, if the electric, E and magnetic, B fields are perpendicular to each other in reference frame S, can there be a reference frame, S' where E' = 0? If so, what will be the relative velocity, v?
  6. K

    Learning Quantum Electrodynamics: Resources and Advice

    Hiya. I'm going to be taking a Quantum Electrodynamics course next semester. I was wondering if anyone could recommend : a) Good sites on the subject b) Good books on the subject Thanks in advance!
  7. Reshma

    Understanding the Left-Hand Rule in Electrodynamics

    Can someone explain me the left-hand rule in Electrodynamics?
  8. A

    What is the potential of the other terminal in a car battery?

    I was working through the following problem: The negative termincal of a 12V car battery is connected to the car frame which can be regarded as 'ground', at a potential of 0V. What is the potential of the other terminal? The answer is +12V, but I cannot understand why. Could someone give...
  9. S

    Cauchy Integral Formula and Electrodynamics

    Is it possible to solve for an E field from a charge density function using the Cauchy Integral Formulas from complex variables? Cauchy Integral Formula about a closed loop in the complex plane (Integral[f[z]/ (z-z0)^(n+1)dz = 2 pi i /n! d^n f(z0)/dz ]) that is the n derivative of f with...
  10. S

    Help with Griffiths Electrodynamics

    I've been brushing up on electrodynamics before I start grad school when I encountered problem 5.42 in Griffith's Electrodynamics. I can get everything correct except the coefficient to work out. Any one know where I can find a solution to this problem...
  11. C

    Does the electric force in a hydrogen atom behave like an electromagnetic wave?

    I have a book talking about transient electron-positron pairs appearing and disappearing inside a hydrogen atom which effects the attractive force between the proton and the electron, okay I'm fine with that. It then goes on to say that the effect is only over short distances because of the...
  12. W

    Newbie Problems on Electrodynamics

    May anyone please show me how to derive the "magnetic field energy density" in a medium, which equals \frac{1}{2}H \cdot B? I would be very pleased if anyone could show me how to derive (step-bystep) the conservation of energy equation *in a medium* (not in vacuum) i.e. \nabla\cdot S +...
  13. G

    Two concepts about quantum electrodynamics and quantum field theory

    One question has disturbed me long time, I don't know the distinction between quantum electrodynamics and quantum field theory. By the way, which quantum field theory or quantum electrodynamics textbook is prefer?
  14. G

    Electrodynamics i need some help

    Hi, This is my first post, am excited to be here. Cutting to the chase here, i have a question that has been bothering me for a while. The problem is there is a charged cylinder with charge say +1, and i have to charges outside say at a distance 'd' from the center of the cylinder such that...
  15. S

    Electrodynamics problem(Lenz' s Law)

    A metal bar of mass m slides frictionlessly on two conducting rails a distance l apart as shown in the attached Figure 1. A resistor R is connected across the rails and a uniform magnetic field B, directed into the page fills the entire region. a) If the bar is moving to the right at speed...
  16. M

    Quantum electrodynamics enabled?

    Im wondering what products/technologies that would not have been poosible without the theories of Quantum electrodynamics, not things that these theories appear to explain.
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