Relation between Electric field and Magnetic field?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between electric and magnetic fields in the context of special relativity, particularly focusing on scenarios where the electric field vanishes while the magnetic field remains non-zero. Participants explore the implications of this situation and the relevant invariants under Lorentz transformations.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the conditions under which the electric field and magnetic field interact, questioning the significance of the dot product being zero. There are inquiries about Lorentz invariants and the definitions of scalars in relativity.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing hints and references to external resources. Some express uncertainty about the necessary background knowledge, while others suggest that understanding special relativity is crucial for addressing the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the original poster lacks specific course materials and express concern about the expectations of the exam. There is an acknowledgment that the problem cannot be solved without a foundational understanding of the electromagnetic field in the context of special relativity.

Gaurav
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
An observer in an inertial frame finds that at a point P the Electric field vanishes but the Magnetic field does not. This implies that in any other inertial frame the electric field E and the magnetic field B satisfy:
[these values in vectors]
1. |E|2 = |B|2
2. E . B = 0
3. E x B = 0
4. E = 0

I know the answer is E.B = 0 but why is that?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What quantities (involving EM fields) do you know that are invariand under Lorentz transformations?
 
What is the relativistic definition of a scalar?
 
I don't know these values. This is a question of my exam. There is nothing given more.
 
If you do not know the expressions for the invariants of the electromagnetic field, then you have no chance (or rather 25% chance) to answer this question correctly. This suggests that your examiner expects you to know. Do you have some course litterature where you can look them up?
 
I have only its paper, I attached it, It is question no. 2 in it.
 

Attachments

Its all I have
 
So I am assuming this is a general physics test of some sort. Your problem will not be solvable until you know some special relativity and how it describes the electromagnetic field. In order to fully understand the solution, you will also need to know what is meant by a Lorentz scalar and use some of the properties of the electromagnetic field tensor (see, e.g., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_tensor#Properties).

If you find the correct argumentation to use, this problem is solved in one line. In accordance with forum guidelines I will refrain from posting it here.
 
Thanks a lot. I will check it.
 
  • #10
Just another small pointer: When they talk about a Lorentz invariant in the Wikipedia link above, this means that they are talking about a quantity which has the same value in all inertial frames. Given this information along with the Wikipedia information, you should be able to deduct the correct answer. Please tell me when you have figured it out and ask if you have further questions.
 
  • #11
I'm still unable to get this relation. E.B =0
I guess for inertial frame, it should be easier
 
  • #12
Gaurav said:
An observer in an inertial frame finds that at a point P the Electric field vanishes but the Magnetic field does not. This implies that in any other inertial frame the electric field E and the magnetic field B satisfy:
[these values in vectors]
1. |E|2 = |B|2
2. E . B = 0
3. E x B = 0
4. E = 0

I know the answer is E.B = 0 but why is that?

IMG_20210710_210418.jpg
IMG_20210710_210358.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: saikiransirineni
  • #13
@SuvajitSardar -- Welcome to PhysicsForums. :smile:

Please note that we generally don't allow the posting of full solutions to homework questions at PF (except for the OP). But in this case this thread is quite old, so it's okay that you posted your solution. I did not check it however.
 

Similar threads

Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
4K
Replies
10
Views
2K