Who contributed to Maxwell's Equations and how?

In summary, the four equations used in electromagnetism are named after scientists Gauss, Faraday, and Ampere. It is unclear how much involvement each had in the development of the equations, but Maxwell's main contribution was adding the second term in Ampere's law. The initial form of Maxwell's Equations consisted of 20 equations, but he linked them into a single theory. The Wikipedia pages for each equation have some information about their history and there are additional details in the footnotes.
  • #1
aqwas
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The four equations carry the names of Gauss, Faraday and Ampere, however, I cannot seem to find any information regarding each's involvement in them. Are those names solely due to physical observations made by the person (in the case of Faraday for example) or have they contributed towards the actual mathematics behind them (which I would assume Gauss has)? Exactly what was Maxwell's contribution? As far as I am aware, the initial form of Maxwell's Equations consisted of 20 equations with Maxwell's main contribution being the second term in Ampere's law. Did he formulate the entire (or majority of) mathematics behind electromagnetism or did he simply link all of the previous equations into a single theory?

(Bear in mind, I am not trying to discredit Maxwell in any way)
 
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  • #2

1. Who is credited with discovering Maxwell's Equations?

James Clerk Maxwell is credited with discovering Maxwell's Equations. He published his findings in his influential paper, "A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field," in 1865.

2. Did any other scientists contribute to the development of Maxwell's Equations?

Yes, other scientists made significant contributions to the development of Maxwell's Equations. Michael Faraday, André-Marie Ampère, and Carl Friedrich Gauss all made important discoveries that influenced Maxwell's work.

3. How did Michael Faraday contribute to Maxwell's Equations?

Michael Faraday's experiments with electricity and magnetism laid the foundation for Maxwell's Equations. He discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction and developed the concept of electric and magnetic fields.

4. What role did André-Marie Ampère play in the development of Maxwell's Equations?

André-Marie Ampère's work on the relationship between electricity and magnetism helped Maxwell understand the nature of electromagnetism. Ampère's equations, known as Ampère's Circuital Law, were one of the four fundamental equations in Maxwell's formulation.

5. How did Carl Friedrich Gauss influence Maxwell's Equations?

Carl Friedrich Gauss's work on the mathematical principles of electromagnetism greatly influenced Maxwell's Equations. Gauss's law for electricity and magnetism, also known as Gauss's Law, was one of the four fundamental equations in Maxwell's formulation.

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