What is Electrodynamics: Definition and 414 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. S

    I Coulomb gauge Lorenz invariant?

    Hey, What is meant by Coulomb gauge not being Lorenz invariant? The Coulomb gauge is just a constraint on \mathbf{A} and \phi and thus it is independent of inertial frame. I posted the question in the wrong section. This question is in the context of QFT. The notes says: A disadvantage of...
  2. J

    Classical Griffiths or Jackson for Electrodynamics?

    I'm looking to brush up on my knowledge of electrodynamics and am trying to decide between Jackson and Griffiths. I have a fairly advanced math background and am comfortable with differential geometry, special and general relativity. I'm leaning toward Jackson but wanted to get input from...
  3. cemtu

    I How does the electrical field become bent instead of following a straight line?

    Why is electrical field bent like that rather than following a straight line across to the relevant point over there?
  4. casparov

    Calculate the Magnetic Vector Potential of a circular loop carrying a current

    Can someone explain what exactly happens at (4) ? I do not clearly follow, except that there is some cosine law going on? I also do not really understand why at (3), r' doesnt have a z hat component, but I can live with that.
  5. jselms99

    Einstein's Electrodynamics of moving Bodies

    Okay I’m assuming I have to use √1- v^2/c^2 multiplied by some coefficient of length but I don’t understand any of this and could really use help understanding the process and/or reference material that might point me in the right direction
  6. H

    A Radiation back reaction in classical electrodynamics

    I've been doing some research on the topic of radiation reaction force/self force in classical electrodynamics and although there are some discussions on the internet I would like direct answers to these following questions: Is there a rigorous and universally accepted treatment of radiation...
  7. O

    I Follow Up on M. LeBellac & J.M. Levy-Leblond's "Galilean Electromagnetism

    In https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-assumptions-underly-the-lorentz-transformation.1015982/post-6657920 a discussion evolved from the basic assumptions of the Lorentz transformations, to a paper M. LeBellac, J. M. Levy-Leblond, Galilean electromagnetism, Nuovo Cim. 14B, 217 (1973)...
  8. Ahmed1029

    What chapters can I skip when self-studying Griffiths electrodynamics?

    I'm currently studying Griffiths electrodynamics on my own and I want to be done with it once and for all. I however don't know if all the chapters are important for the rest of physics and which ones can be skipped without loss of continuity. Can someone give me some insight?
  9. P

    A Variation of Energy for Dielectrics (Zangwill's Electrodynamics)

    Hello PhysicsForums community, I have been reading through Zangwill's Modern Electrodynamics all on my own, and I've just joined here hoping I can post some questions that come up for me. To start, I am confused about something in section 6.7.1, concerning the variation of total energy U of a...
  10. MichaelBack12

    Zangwill Modern Electrodynamics Lectures?

    Summary:: Courses in electrodynamics Any online lectures or courses keyed to this book? Thanks very much
  11. janjan

    I Measurement of charge in motion

    In Purcell's E&M Section5.3 "Measurement of charge in motion", he said when a charge is in motion, the force on test charges may not be in the direction of radius vector r. And in next paragraph, he defined Q by averaging over all directions. However, he just measured the radial component of...
  12. FuzzySphere

    Classical Electrodynamics Recommendations

    I'm currently studying quantum mechanics from MIT opencourseware, just about to finish 8.05, quantum physics 2. I have little knowledge of electrodynamics, but I want to learn enough to be comfortable studying quantum electrodynamics in the future. My math background is pretty strong, so I've...
  13. C

    A Compactness and complexity in electrodynamics

    As human beings, we tend to act and observe and think over time periods spanning a few milliseconds to several decades (or even centuries.) Essentially all phenomena that we directly engage with in everyday life are electrodynamical (with quantum electrodynamics over reasonably short time and...
  14. M

    I Visual Interpretation of Advanced Electrodynamics

    Hello! I am a junior undergraduate physics major and I am very confused on how to visualize things in my electrodynamics class. Specifically, I am having issues with dielectrics and spheres with constant potentials etc. I usually notice that I am lost in a class when I can no longer draw out a...
  15. A

    Electrodynamics: electrostatic potential

    Hi! I tried to solve it by using the equation of the electric potential above and as we see it requires the electric field, but the electric field at the center of the ring is zero. Then I tried by using the equation [text] V = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0r} \int \lamda dl [\text] and I got [text] V...
  16. Gustav

    Electrodynamics: charge of a particle

    I tried solving the problem using the force formula, so what I have known is the magnetic field B and E. I also have a motion in the x-axis, that means that the velocity will be pointed at the x-axis. Inserting this in the formula I will be having something like this: $$\mathbf{F} = q(\mathbf{E}...
  17. Gustav

    Electrodynamics, Electrostatic potential, electric-field

    I am unsure how to solve the problem and would appreciate any suggestens on how to start solving the problem.
  18. Gustav

    Electrodynamics: bound charges

    I was trying to solve it using the formula for polaresation P = ε E - ε0 E. Then I tried to solve for E which is D/ε and D= ρf/ε. So at the end, I will have something as P = pf- (ε0ε). ρb = -∇ * P = 0 so σb = P * n = ...? I am unsure what the direction for the polaresation should be? I need...
  19. Zeeshan Ahmad

    Solving Problem 4 of DJ Griffiths Electrodynamics Chapter 9

    While I was doing a problems of chapter 9 of DJ griffith electrodynamics I came across this problem 4 Problem statement Obtain eq 20(show in the below picture) Directly from the waves equation by separation of variable Could I have a straight solution in your word Thank you
  20. Mr.Husky

    Classical Confusion between Electrodynamics texts

    Hello everyone, I recently completed kleppner and kolenkow classical mechanics book. Next I am going to learn Electrodynamics. My brother is a EE major and he gave me his copy of "principles of electromagnetics" Matthew Sadiku 4th edition. But a lot of people here recommend Griffiths. So, 1.)...
  21. J

    A Are these papers on Quantum Electrodynamics true?

    https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.10345 My question is, Has the Feynman Diagram IIc been published or not? Did Kroll & Karplus lie or not? https://vixra.org/abs/2002.0011 Are these critics valid?
  22. Viona

    Spin-Orbit Coupling in Hydrogen Atom: Understanding the Calculation

    I was reading in the Book: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics by David J. Griffiths. In chapter Time-independent Perturbation Theory, Section: Spin -Orbit Coupling. I understood that the spin–orbit coupling in Hydrogen atom arises from the interaction between the electron’s spin magnetic moment...
  23. A

    Writing the charge density in the form of the Dirac delta function

    Hey guys! Sorry if this is a stupid question but I'm having some trouble to express this charge distribution as dirac delta functions. I know that the charge distribution of a circular disc in the ##x-y##-plane with radius ##a## and charge ##q## is given by $$\rho(r,\theta)=qC_a...
  24. P

    Problem on induced electric field, electrodynamics

    The problem is shown above, the hint to solve the problem is below. See the hint if it is difficult for you to imagine what is going on. I am assuming the diagram in the hint shows what's happening when the mass is falling at terminal velocity. I have quite a few questions. 1. How do the wheels...
  25. A

    Calculating the force on an electron from two positive point charges

    So this is more of an intuitive question rather than a mathematical one. I present the problem. Assume I have 2 charges of charge +q at a distance r from each other on the z axis. Position of two charges is (0,0,r/2) and (0,0,-r/2). Assume now that I want to calculate the force these two...
  26. J

    Energy paradox in classical electrodynamics?

    Consider two massive charged objects at rest with a large horizontal distance ##d## between them (object ##1##: mass ##m_1##, charge ##q_1## and object ##2##: mass ##m_2##, charge ##q_2##). I apply a constant vertical force ##\vec{f_1}## upwards to object ##1## so that it gains an acceleration...
  27. AHSAN MUJTABA

    Electrodynamics Radiation section

    I am computing the radiation pattern for that I have to calculate the power per solid angle I found $$m( magnetic moment)=I(t)A$$ where then i took the cross product with $n=sin(\theta)cos(\phi)i+sin(\theta)sin(\phi)j+cos(\theta)k$ After that I moved towards computing the E and B which I know...
  28. AHSAN MUJTABA

    Electrodynamics and the Poynting theorem

    In my opinion the field momentum is the field's intrinsic momentum which it will give to charges(if any present)...
  29. LCSphysicist

    Electrodynamics problem -- Calculating the resistance of ocean water

    A return path for the current was provided by the ocean itself. Given that the resistivity of seawater is about 0.25 ohm-meter, see if you can show that the resistance of the ocean return would have been much smaller than that of the cable. (Assume that the electrodes immersed in the water were...
  30. AHSAN MUJTABA

    Electrodynamics regarding volume charge density behavior

    In this explanation we need to involve the Dirac delta functions(maybe) but I clearly have a difficulty in understanding it can some one explain me the whole concept of constant or non constant volume charge density.
  31. A

    I Electrodynamics of Dielectrics: 4D to 3D

    Hi, so the four-dimensional generalization of $$\vec{B}=\mu\vec{H}$$ is $$F_{\lambda \mu}u_{\nu} + F_{\mu \nu}u_{\lambda} + F_{\nu \lambda}u_{\mu} = \mu (H_{\lambda \mu}u_{\nu} + H_{\mu \nu}u_{\lambda} + H_{\nu \lambda}u_{\mu})$$ From these four-tensors and four-vector I should be able to...
  32. L

    Separation of Variables: Find the potential b/w concentric hemispheres

    I'm having troubles setting up this problem. I know we are to use boundary conditions to determine An and Bn since in this case (a<r<b) neither can be set to 0. I don't know how the given potentials translate into boundary conditions, especially the V3 disk.
  33. AHSAN MUJTABA

    Electrodynamics flux calculation question

    I don't really know how to find it mathematically as I am really confused in finding the normal vector and finding the electric field as well. pls help
  34. C

    Is the Configuration of Magnetic Fields Only a Convention?

    If I understand correctly, the concept of electric and magnetic fields originated with Faraday and was developed by reconceptualizing forces acting at-a-distance. For example, the electric field concept was developed by looking at the force on a test charge in the presence of a source charge...
  35. qnach

    Jackson Classical Electrodynamics: page 35 expansion of charge

    Could anyone explain how did Jackson obtain the Taylor distribution of charge distribution at the end of section 1.7 (version 3)?
  36. Tony Hau

    Can anyone help check where I went wrong (Potential of electrodynamics)?

    Summary:: So this is a question from Griffiths' book on electrodynamics. The topic is on electircal potential. I have come up with a solution to a problem; the solution is wrong but I cannot spot the mistake. So here is the question: My answer to this question is: $$\sigma( θ ) = \frac...
  37. AndreasC

    Going through Jackson's Electrodynamics as an undergad who "hates" E/M

    Summary:: Not entirely sure if this is the appropriate board, if I'm mistaken feel free to move it somewhere better. I decided to slowly go through Jackson's infamous Classical Electrodynamics book as a challenge to myself, solving as many exercises as possible. I will document my progress...
  38. Mondayman

    Quantum Intro to Quantum Electrodynamics

    Hi folks, Electricity and magnetism have always been my favorite subjects, and I am just getting to learn the basics of quantum theory and it is absolutely terrific going. I was always fascinated by the story of Feynman, Schwinger, and Tomonaga tackling QED from the books Genius by James Gleick...
  39. Amitkumarr

    To find the Acceleration of a Pentagonal metallic plate

    In order to find force( and hence the Acceleration) on the Pentagonal plate,we must find the Resistance of the plate.But to find the resistance we must know how the current is flowing through the given plate(see attached figure). My question is how is the current flowing through the Pentagonal...
  40. Demystifier

    Classical Classical electrodynamics for high-energy physicists

    I've just found a recent very interesting and very modern textbook on classical electrodynamics. It starts with special relativity (rather than electrostatics) and contains a lot of high-energy topics, including renormalization (within classical realm), massive vector fields, gravitational...
  41. K

    EMF shielding using a conductor

    So I've been trying to figure out how EMF shielding works. More specifically, I've seen videos where placing a metal conductor in front of a circular coil (with AC running through at radio frequencies) apparently shielded anything behind it. After searching online, I repeatedly saw Eddy...
  42. J

    I Does direct interparticle action imply advanced inertial forces?

    In his Nobel lecture (https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1965/feynman/lecture/) Richard Feynman states that by varying the Schwarzschild-Tetrode-Fokker direct interparticle action $$A=-\sum_i m_i\int\big(\mathbf{\dot X_i}\cdot\mathbf{\dot X_i}\big)^{1/2}d\alpha_i+\frac{1}{2}\sum_{i\ne...
  43. Blakely42

    Learning Nothing from my E&M Course

    Summary:: Griffiths' Electrodynamics Text is Worthless for Teaching It seems like Griffiths just makes things up as he goes along. There's no reasoning. Sometimes he does things one way, sometimes another. Solutions are never really explained, whether I look up homework solutions online or...
  44. F

    Electric field Difference between Electrostatics and Electrodynamics

    Hello everyone, I have been pondering on the behavior of the E field in conductors. In electrostatics (where the charges are not moving): a) Electric fields are time- independent but position-dependent b) Electric fields are always zero inside a charged or uncharged conductor. At the...
  45. cemtu

    Griffiths Introduction to Electrodynamics (Stokes Theorem Corollary)

    Although Stokes Theorem says that the line integral of a closed surface equals to zero why do we get a non-zero value out of this question 1.11 (and figure 1.33) in the Griffits Introduction to Eletrodynamics Book?
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