Understanding Length and Area Elements for Electromagnetic Laws

AI Thread Summary
Finding length and area elements for Gauss's, Ampere's, and Biot-Savart Laws involves using infinitesimal distances, denoted as ds, which can be defined in Cartesian, cylindrical, or spherical coordinates. The choice of ds should align with the direction of the flux or current in the problem. It is important to understand that ds is a differential quantity and does not have a specific numerical value. Instead, one integrates with respect to s to solve the problems. Mastering these concepts for complex geometries will facilitate understanding simpler cases.
tblount2
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
I'm having a difficult time figuring out how to find length and area elements for Gauss's, Ampere's, and Biot-Savart Laws! Can someone please help explain! This applies to symmetrical, non-symmetrical, and infinite objects! I'm not asking what is the area of a sphere but, say with an infinite object, you use a small portion maybe called ds, well how do you figure how what your value of ds will be? And please don't give an example using a simple figure! That won't help me! I've noticed that if I understand the most difficult then I'm good to go for everything! Thanks :)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
ds is an infinitesimal distance which u can chose in cartesian coordinates, cylindrical or spherical coordinates. U want to chose ds along the line which contains the flux or the current, ...
 
You don't "figure out your value of ds". A differential has no value in terms of numbers. You integrate with respect to s.
 
Thread 'Gauss' law seems to imply instantaneous electric field propagation'
Imagine a charged sphere at the origin connected through an open switch to a vertical grounded wire. We wish to find an expression for the horizontal component of the electric field at a distance ##\mathbf{r}## from the sphere as it discharges. By using the Lorenz gauge condition: $$\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A} + \frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial \phi}{\partial t}=0\tag{1}$$ we find the following retarded solutions to the Maxwell equations If we assume that...
Thread 'A scenario of non-uniform circular motion'
(All the needed diagrams are posted below) My friend came up with the following scenario. Imagine a fixed point and a perfectly rigid rod of a certain length extending radially outwards from this fixed point(it is attached to the fixed point). To the free end of the fixed rod, an object is present and it is capable of changing it's speed(by thruster say or any convenient method. And ignore any resistance). It starts with a certain speed but say it's speed continuously increases as it goes...
Maxwell’s equations imply the following wave equation for the electric field $$\nabla^2\mathbf{E}-\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial^2\mathbf{E}}{\partial t^2} = \frac{1}{\varepsilon_0}\nabla\rho+\mu_0\frac{\partial\mathbf J}{\partial t}.\tag{1}$$ I wonder if eqn.##(1)## can be split into the following transverse part $$\nabla^2\mathbf{E}_T-\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial^2\mathbf{E}_T}{\partial t^2} = \mu_0\frac{\partial\mathbf{J}_T}{\partial t}\tag{2}$$ and longitudinal part...
Back
Top