The discussion revolves around the propagation speed of the electrostatic field in the context of a thought experiment involving a proton and an electron. Participants explore the implications of changing electric fields and the nature of electromagnetic interactions, touching on theoretical aspects of electrostatics and electromagnetism.
Participants express differing views on the nature of the fields involved and the implications of changing electric fields. There is no consensus on the interpretation of the thought experiment or the propagation characteristics of the fields.
Participants discuss the limitations of the thought experiment, particularly regarding the assumptions about instantaneous changes in charge and the nature of the fields involved. The discussion reflects a complexity in understanding the interactions of electric and magnetic fields as described by Maxwell's equations.
This discussion may be of interest to those studying electromagnetism, particularly in understanding the nuances of field interactions and the implications of changing electric fields in theoretical contexts.
is a faulty description, the fields of the three particles effect each other at all distances and all directions. You can not suddenly make the net charge of the multi particle system vanish.jeremyfiennes said:I have a proton and an electron at a certain distance from it. The proton exerts an electrostatic force on the electron. I then neutralize the proton's charge by firing another electron at it from behind.
If the electric field is changing (##\partial\vec E/\partial t\neq 0##) then the magnetic field is non-zero by the fourth Maxwell's equation.jeremyfiennes said:Ok. My doubt, however, is that this thought experiment refers to a propagating electrostatic, and not an electromagnetic field.