Are Maxwell's equations theoretically sound?

In summary, Maxwell's equations are a successful theory that describe the behavior of light. They were not written without the discovery of the electron.
  • #1
Xilus
27
0
are maxwells equations theoretically accurate?
do they describe electromagnetism?

its basically a series of differential equations for describing the electric, and magnetic fields.
including particle motion and the field it creates?

the electric field makes a lot of sense. but what is magnetism?
why is it so elusive?

why do we consider light similar to an electric field?
why would we unify? i say we don't unify.
 
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  • #2
Xilus said:
do they describe electromagnetism?
Not completely, that is why we developed quantum electrodynamics.

Xilus said:
why would we unify? i say we don't unify
Its a done deal, not currently a topic of debate amongst professional scientists.
 
  • #3
Xilus said:
i say we don't unify.

In science, an opinion has to be justified to have merit. It's not like "I don't like broccoli". As Dale says, it's too late - we already know that electricity and magnetism are two aspects of the same, electromagnetic, force.
 
  • #4
Xilus said:
the electric field makes a lot of sense. but what is magnetism?
why is it so elusive?

It's not elusive. It's understood extremely well. What is it that gives you the impression that we don't understand magnetism?

Xilus said:
why do we consider light similar to an electric field?

Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of experiments support the theory that light is an electromagnetic wave. Nothing else predicts the effect that light will have better than our current electromagnetic theories. Maxwell's equations are enormously successful in accurately describing the behavior of light.
 
  • #5
ok there is no way maxwell wrote the equations without the discovery of electrons.
 
  • #6
Xilus said:
ok there is no way maxwell wrote the equations without the discovery of electrons.

Errr ... so you dispute history now? Maxwell died in 1879, the electron was discovered in 1897.
 
  • #7
A very long and misinformation-laden digression has been removed from this thread.
Many posters have put much work into thoughtful and well-reasoned responses to the misinformation, and I regret that their work has disappeared with this thread cleanup.

If you would like a copy of your removed posts for future use or to start another thread, any mentor can recover them for you - just ask in the next few days.
 
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1. What are Maxwell's equations?

Maxwell's equations are a set of four equations that describe the behavior of electric and magnetic fields. They were developed by James Clerk Maxwell in the 19th century and are a fundamental part of classical electromagnetic theory.

2. Are Maxwell's equations accurate?

Yes, Maxwell's equations are highly accurate and have been validated through numerous experiments and observations. They are a cornerstone of modern physics and have been used to make predictions about the behavior of electromagnetic fields that have been confirmed by experiments.

3. How do Maxwell's equations relate to light?

Maxwell's equations provide a theoretical framework for understanding the behavior of light. They demonstrate that light is an electromagnetic wave and describe how it propagates through space. Without Maxwell's equations, our understanding of light would be incomplete.

4. Can Maxwell's equations be applied to all situations?

Maxwell's equations are a general mathematical description of electromagnetic fields, so they can be applied to a wide range of situations. However, they are based on certain assumptions and may not accurately describe extreme conditions, such as those found in black holes or at the subatomic level.

5. Are Maxwell's equations theoretically sound?

Yes, Maxwell's equations are considered to be theoretically sound. They are based on fundamental principles of electromagnetism and have been tested and confirmed through experiments. However, like any scientific theory, they may be subject to future revisions or refinements as our understanding of the universe evolves.

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