How Do Electric and Magnetic Fields Transform in Different Reference Frames?

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A pure electric field observed in a stationary reference frame appears as both an electric and magnetic field in a moving reference frame. This transformation occurs because a moving charge generates a magnetic field, while a static charge only produces an electric field. The discussion emphasizes that electric and magnetic fields are not separate entities but different manifestations of the same electromagnetic field. The perception of these fields changes based on the observer's frame of reference, illustrating the principles of special relativity. Understanding this relationship is crucial for grasping the nature of electromagnetic interactions.
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A pure electric field in one reference frame is observed as a combination of both an electric field and a magnetic field in a moving reference frame. (from wikipedia)

Thank you
 
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What do you think it means?
 
It means that what looks to a 'stationary' observer as an electric field only looks to a moving observer as a combination of electric and magnetic fields. I guess I just restated exactly what it said lol What part of it don't you understand?
 
I just don't get it. :d
 
You need to be more specific than that, seriously dude. Do you understand what an electric field is? Do you understand what a frame of reference is? Do you understand what a magnetic field is?

If you observe an electric field in your frame of reference, somebody in a different frame of reference will observe both an electric field and a magnetic field.
 
Do you understand that a moving charge produces a magnetic field?
 
Doc Al said:
Do you understand that a moving charge produces a magnetic field?
Yes. The problem is that I wanted to relate this question to my initial question which was why a movin charge produces both B and E fields whole static charge produce only E field. Can someone help me?
 
Does it help if I tell you that Electric and Magnetic fields are not two separate things but just different aspects of one thing (Sometimes we call it the Electromagnetic Field)?

What we call a Magnetic field is how this 'thing' appears to us when we are moving fast. What we call an Electric field is how it looks when we are standing still. If we only move slowly, it looks like a mixture of the two.

The 'thing' got two names because nobody realized at first it was the same.
 
Here's an example illustrating that electric and magnetic fields are two aspects of one thing, as special relativity has taught us: http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/252/rel_el_mag.html"
 
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