# Qualitative description of maxwells equations

1. Jan 26, 2008

### stunner5000pt

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Give a qualitative description of maxwell's equation s in non polarizable, non magnetizable media.

2. Relevant equations
$$\oint_{S} E \cdot dA = 4\pi\int_{V}\rho d\tau$$
$$\oint_{S} B \cdot dA = 0$$
$$\oint_{P} E \cdot dl = -\frac{1}{c} \frac{d}{dt} \int_{S} B \cdot dA$$
$$\oint_{P} B\cdot dl = \frac{4\pi}{c} \int_{S} J\cdot dA +\frac{1}{c} \frac{d}{dt} \int_{S} E \cdot dA$$

3. The attempt at a solution

Gauss Law : The total electric flux over a closed Gaussian surface S is given by 4 pi Q enc where Q enc is the charge enclosed by surface S in volume V.

No magnetic monopoles:The total magnetic flux over a closed surface S is zero. This means that the net magnitude of the vector components of the magnetic field that point inward must equal to the net magnitude of the vector components that point outward.

Faraday's Law: The path integral of the electric field along the boundary P over a closed surface S is given by -1/c times the time derivative of the magnetic flux over the surface S.

Ampere-Maxwell Law: The path integral of the magnetic field along the boundary P over a closed surface S is given by sum of hte total current over the surface of S and the time derivative of the electric flux over the surface S.

I ALWAYS lose marks on questions like this on tests and exams. Are these descriptions are sufficient? Do they need more detail??

2. Jan 27, 2008

### pam

The line integrals for E and B are closed paths around an OPEN surface.

3. Jan 27, 2008

### stunner5000pt

are these sufficient as qualitative explanations for maxwell equations??

I explained the math behind it but should i explain what it means in more physical terms?

4. Jan 28, 2008

### pam

TYhey are OK, with the correction.

5. Jan 29, 2008

Thank you