Force on Moving Charge: Lorentz Transformation & Point Charge

[QuasarBoy543298]

consider a frame S with a given electric and magnetic fields , and a single point charge. if we want to calculate the force on the charge in his rest frame we should use Lorentz transformation to find the electric field in his rest frame. if we believe that a given field is not related to his sources, shouldn't we include the field of the point charge in the Lorentz transformation? (and if we do so , we get a division by 0).

 

[phyzguy]

The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Vol2 Chapter 28 has an excellent summary of this topic, with a lot of the history. I recommend reading it.

 

[Meir Achuz]

You should not include the field of the charge in either frame to find the force on the charge.