- #1
tarkin
- 13
- 0
I keep getting confused with E and D, in electrostatics, and B and H, in magnetostatics.
I've done some reading around, but some people seem to say the opposite of others. I was hoping someone could clarify for me once and for all!
So, my thinking was that, E is the total electric field, due to both the free charges, and bound charges in the material. D is the external electric field, due to only the free charges, and P is the polarisation, only due to bound charges, but defined as going in the opposite direction.
Is this correct? It seems to make sense, but I've heard D called "induced field", which doesn't agree with what I've written above.
Also, since the equation is written D = εE + P, would this not imply that D is the total field, rather than external field?In Magnetostatics, my thinking was that B is the total field, H is applied (external) field, and M is magnetisation.Basically, can someone clarify for me, which fields are the external fields (due to free charges),
and which are the total fields (due to free + bound charges) ?
Thanks
I've done some reading around, but some people seem to say the opposite of others. I was hoping someone could clarify for me once and for all!
So, my thinking was that, E is the total electric field, due to both the free charges, and bound charges in the material. D is the external electric field, due to only the free charges, and P is the polarisation, only due to bound charges, but defined as going in the opposite direction.
Is this correct? It seems to make sense, but I've heard D called "induced field", which doesn't agree with what I've written above.
Also, since the equation is written D = εE + P, would this not imply that D is the total field, rather than external field?In Magnetostatics, my thinking was that B is the total field, H is applied (external) field, and M is magnetisation.Basically, can someone clarify for me, which fields are the external fields (due to free charges),
and which are the total fields (due to free + bound charges) ?
Thanks