What is Electromagnetism: Definition and 842 Discussions

Electromagnetism is a branch of physics involving the study of the electromagnetic force, a type of physical interaction that occurs between electrically charged particles. The electromagnetic force is carried by electromagnetic fields composed of electric fields and magnetic fields, and it is responsible for electromagnetic radiation such as light. It is one of the four fundamental interactions (commonly called forces) in nature, together with the strong interaction, the weak interaction, and gravitation. At high energy, the weak force and electromagnetic force are unified as a single electroweak force.

Electromagnetic phenomena are defined in terms of the electromagnetic force, sometimes called the Lorentz force, which includes both electricity and magnetism as different manifestations of the same phenomenon. The electromagnetic force plays a major role in determining the internal properties of most objects encountered in daily life. The electromagnetic attraction between atomic nuclei and their orbital electrons holds atoms together. Electromagnetic forces are responsible for the chemical bonds between atoms which create molecules, and intermolecular forces. The electromagnetic force governs all chemical processes, which arise from interactions between the electrons of neighboring atoms. Electromagnetism is very widely used in modern technology, and electromagnetic theory is the basis of electric power engineering and electronics including digital technology.
There are numerous mathematical descriptions of the electromagnetic field. Most prominently, Maxwell's equations describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated and altered by each other and by charges and currents.
The theoretical implications of electromagnetism, particularly the establishment of the speed of light based on properties of the "medium" of propagation (permeability and permittivity), led to the development of special relativity by Albert Einstein in 1905.

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  1. toumaza

    Electromagnetism and charged particles in motion

    Whenever a charged particle is in motion ,there is both electric and magnetic fields created. Why is it that we only study one of it at a time ?
  2. S

    What does B.dl indicate in Ampere's Law

    I know that \oint \vec E \cdot \vec{dS} in Gauss Law indicates electric flux. \oint \vec E \cdot \vec{dS} = \frac{Q_{enc}}{\varepsilon_0} But what does B.dl indicate in Ampere's Law? ##\oint \vec{B} \cdot \vec{dl} ## = ??
  3. pitbull

    Current on a spring to withstand a weight.

    Homework Statement You have a spring of length l, radius R, with N loops and n loops per unit length. If you consider it a solenoid, what current do you need to apply to withstand a mass m hanging from it, without stretching or shrinking the spring. Homework Equations Magnetic field inside a...
  4. J

    Magnetic field and electric field induce one another forever

    A changing electric field produces magnetic field and vice versa.Does that mean that this process will carry on forever?Think of a circuit with a capacitor.The magnetic field due to the current at a point on the wire(with Ampere-Maxwell law).But current was changing with time,so it also meant...
  5. M

    Charge per unit length for a charged ring

    Homework Statement If you have a ring of charge, is it valid to say lambda = Q/L, or is it lambda = dQ/dL? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
  6. H

    Drift velocity: Why not 1/2 *t*(eE/m)

    Why is the drift velocity of an electron in a wire defined as: tau*(E*e/m) and not 1/2 *tau* (eE/m) as it is the AVERAGE VELOCITY!? because the above defintion of drift velocity is the velocity that is attained before the collision so rather the maximum velocity of the elctron, isn't it?
  7. Futurestar33

    Comparing Group theory and Electromagnetism

    Homework Statement Good afternoon, How can you mathematicaly talk about how how group theory compares to electromagnetism. Homework Equations e^iθ=Cosθ+iSinθ The Attempt at a Solution I know that the above formula is because of a sin wave and a cosine wave. Put them together and you get a...
  8. A

    Electromagnetic boundary conditions for symmetric model

    I stumbled upon this article: http://www.comsol.com/blogs/exploiting-symmetry-simplify-magnetic-field-modeling/ Since the article does not contain any mathematical formulations, I was wondering how the boundary conditions can be expressed in terms of magnetic vector potential. From what I...
  9. P

    An Explanation of the Effective Area of Isotropic Antenna

    Hey all, I realize a question on this topic has been asked elsewhere, but the links to references they use seem to be dead, so I'll press on! I'm reading some introduction to antenna theory and I've often puzzled on the equation: A_{eff} = \frac{\lambda^2}{4\pi} which relates the effective...
  10. U

    Hi all, I'm a Usman,a physics student from Pakistan

    Hi all, I'm a Usman,a physics student from Pakistan .I have joined this forum to polish my physics skills and to share whatever I know about physics ,its principles and so many on......:smile::smile::smile::smile::smile::smile:
  11. EddieP

    Repelling a very weak permanent magnet with an electromagnet

    I have a question about magnetic repulsion. Suppose I have a permanent magnet (axially magnetized) placed on top of the iron core of an electromagnet. I want to switch on the elctromagnet to repel the permanent magnet. (Please assume the permanent magnet is contained in some kind of tube that...
  12. T

    Delay of free fall with electromagnets

    When you have a metallic ball hanging from a electromagnet and you disconnect the electromagnet, there is a delay between the moment you unplug the machine, and the ball starts falling. Why does this happen?
  13. T

    Why is a metallic ball attracted to an electromagnet?

    I always heard that magnetic forces don't do work, and that they act perpendicularly to the direction of movement.
  14. R

    Force between Parallel Wires: Calculating Resultant Force

    1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known Two long parallel vertical wires 0.3m apart are. ' placed east-west of one another. The current in the westerly wire is 30A and on the other 20A. The horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic flux density is 2*10^-5. Find the force per...
  15. thegreengineer

    What does 0 V exactly mean in an electric circuit mean?

    I'm a mechatronics engineering student, and I know that electronics is a requirement in most engineering programs. I'm been dealing with electronics recently and I've been studying electric circuits. I've been noticing that in some of them instead of being closed (in diagrams) they are like...
  16. 2

    What does an electromagnetic wave actually look like in real life?

    hi, everyone I didn't know where to post this thread so I posted it here. I have read many articles about EM wave to find what I'm searching for and nothing still. I have seen many pictures, animations and videos about EM wave, and about oscillating charge, but still nothing. What I am really...
  17. A

    Acceleration of electron due to finite sheet at voltage

    Homework Statement Suppose I am undertaking an experiment using a scanning electron microscope in which there is a positively charged plate underneath the target sample. I want to find the change in energy of the electron due to a positive voltage on this plate from the point it leaves the...
  18. NotADuckFan

    Relationship between electric energy and force

    Homework Statement One of the three types of radioactive decay is "β decay", during which protons decay into neutrons or viceversa, emitting either electrons (β) or positrons (β+) at high velocity as a result. In one experiment, a β source and β+ source are placed 10 cm apart from each other...
  19. Jesus

    Minimal coupling of a Field with electromagnetism

    I have some doubts about minimal coupling of a field of spin 2 for example, with the electromagnetism and I hope someone can help me to clarify them. According to Pauli and Fierz one couples the field with electromagnetism introducing the covariant derivative at the level of the Lagrangian...
  20. Alex Mercer

    Correct electric charge/current flow & left/right hand rule?

    Hello there, people! I am quite new here; in fact, this is my first post. I am quite strange to this place. Feeling kinda welcome, though. Okay, so short to the point. I am an 8th grader, and my school just started teaching us about electricity. Well, the basics. I knew much about it, much...
  21. akashpandey

    Maxwells theory about electromagnetism

    Can anybody explain me relation between timetravel&maxweels theory
  22. PWiz

    Does gravity affect a magnetic/electric field?

    Since light, a form of electromagnetic radiation, gets bent in a gravitational field even though it does not have any rest mass, it is obvious gravity is a force that does much more than just attract two masses towards each other. Since it affects electromagnetic radiation, it has led me to ask...
  23. S

    Electromagnetism: Magnetic Fields

    Homework Statement Two charged particles (P & Q) are fired into a uniform magnetic field that is directed into the page. When a particle possessing charge q moved through a magnetic field B at a velocity v it experienced the lorentz force that has a magnitude of F=qvB. What is the sign of P...
  24. S

    Is Biot-Savart inverse cube or inverse square law?

    I know we can represent it two different ways. First: \mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int_C \frac{I d\mathbf{l} \times \mathbf{\hat r}}{|\mathbf{r}|^2} If we open up unit vector, then it becomes: \mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi} \int_C \frac{I d\mathbf{l} \times \mathbf{r}}{|\mathbf{r}|^3} I...
  25. D

    Formula for Helmholtz Coil with a finite thickness?

    The formula for Helmholtz coil is given by mu*(0.8^1.5)*nI/R, where I is the current, n is te number of coil and R is the radius of the coil. Now assume the bunch of coils have a small 'thickness' w (so it looks like a hollow cylinder with a very small height), and the the two coils are...
  26. S

    Total Magnetic Flux Density Law Problem

    We know Total Magnetic Flux B = B_0 + B_m Where, B_0 is the external field and B_m is the field inside a material. Now, we get, B = B_0 + μ_0*M (M is the magnetization) My question is - Do I always have to use μ_0 ? If yes then Why? The material isn't free space, is it?& also B =...
  27. diegzumillo

    A couple of simple magnetization problems

    Homework Statement These are actually two problems that I'm merging into one because each of them seem to have conflicting solutions, and I want to clear this up. Consider a long cylinder (very long) extending in the z direction with a constant magnetization ##\vec{M}=M\hat{z}##. What are the...
  28. Arlax

    Classical physics history books

    I'm looking for history books on the beginnings of physics (mechanics, electromagnetism, etc) focused on explaining the evolution of the various fields that we have nowadays in physics more than trying to introduce them. For example, I'm looking for books that talk about how Newton discovered...
  29. G

    How should I think about the emf?

    I was under the impression that an emf is the work done per charge by any source that is not electrostatic. However, there are such things such as emfs produced by varying magnetic fields. Being that magnetic fields never do work, what is an appropriate way of thinking of an emf?
  30. D

    How can I show that the amplitude of a reflected wave?

    In Feynman Lectures on Physics (you can find it online), chapter 33 of volume 1, the author derives Fresnel's formulas for the coefficient of reflection in an unusual way by making considerations about the different possible polarization of light. In this way he derives the squares of the...
  31. G

    How does a magnetic field "push" charges?

    I was under the assumption that a magnetic field acts similar to that of the normal force in mechanics; both affect the path of the object, but do no work. So now suppose that we have a rectangular circuit with the left side in an uniform magnetic field that is pointing towards the computer...
  32. U

    Four-potential of moving charge

    Homework Statement (a) Find the four-vector potential of a moving charge (b) Find source time and z-component of electric field (c) Find electric potential to first order of x and hence electric field[/B] Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Part(a) [/B] \phi = \frac{q}{4\pi...
  33. U

    Faraday Tensor and Index Notation

    Homework Statement (a) Find faraday tensor in terms of ##\vec E## and ## \vec B ##. (b) Obtain two of maxwell equations using the field relation. Obtain the other two maxwell equations using 4-potentials. (c) Find top row of stress-energy tensor. Show how the b=0 component relates to j...
  34. K

    How is sinusoidal current generated?

    I'm delving into AC as well as attempting to understand the various wave forms used in electrical engineering, and I am curious how engineers are able to generate current which alternates in a sinusoidal manner. What specific phenomena allows us to achieve this? Is it a special circuit, or does...
  35. thegreengineer

    Electric circuits formulas doubts

    Well, recently I have started to deal with electronics and I've seen several new concepts such as ohm's law, parallel and series circuits, what's AC and DC and many other topics. Ok, I have no doubt on what's direct and alternate current or what a series and parallel circuits are; rather than...
  36. R

    What is magnetic field intensity H?

    Hi all, My question is, in electromagnetism, magnetic field intensity H is equivalent to electric field intensity E , right?? Now, definition of E says that E is the force experienced by an unit positive charge in an electric field created by a source charge. So what is the definition for...
  37. G

    Jefimenko's Equations: Integrals & Integration

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefimenko's_equations What is the integral in these equations called? how do you integrate over (d^3)r'?
  38. S

    Ampere & Biot-Savart: 2 Questions Answered

    I have 2 questions about those 2 equations. 1-) Which one came first in the history of electromagnetism? Some articles say: Biot-Savart derived their equation from Ampere's Law. Some say: Ampere derived from Biot-Savart. Which one is true? 2-) Since Ampere is special form of Biot-Savart and...
  39. S

    If Faraday invented field concept, how did Newton find g?

    This is Newton's law of universal gravitation. $$F=G\frac{m_1.m_2}{r^2}$$ Gravitational field $$g$$ is derived from this formula $$g=G\frac{m_1}{r^2}$$ This is named gravitational "field" strength. If Newton knew nothing about "field concept" and formulated his formula in the form of "action...
  40. H

    Can \(\vec{E} = E_0 \cdot (-y,x, z)\) Be an Electrostatic Field?

    [Mentor's note: this thread was originally posted in a non-homework forum, therefore it does not have the homework template.] ------------ I have a question which is:Let \vec{E} = E_0 \cdot (-y,x, z) Can \vec{E} be an electrostatic field? if yes, find the charge density which generates this...
  41. M

    Motor Principle and Magnet on Balance

    Hi everybody. This is my first thread ever on this forum :S I'm in a first year physics class, and the other day we did a lab involving a c.c.c (current carrying conductor) and a magnet on a balance. The c.c.c was a wire which completed a circuit. One had a magnet assembly which was placed on...
  42. ghost313

    Calculus books to understand physics

    Good morning Everybody and Merry Christmas, Could someone advise me a book they had in the past from which they learned calculus for physics? I am looking for a difficulty level so that I could understand in classical mechanics electromagnetism. I would like to know how to solve every possible...
  43. R

    Slab Beam of electrons through Neutralising Ions

    Homework Statement A slab beam of electrons of thickness a, width w >> a, charge density (-ρb ), (Take ρb to be positive.) and velocity vbez passes through a channel of neutralizing ions with charge density f*ρb where f is some number between zero and one (all parameters given above apply in...
  44. R

    Artificial Magnetic Fields – Electromagnetism (Grade 12) -- CRT e-beam deflection

    Homework Statement A cathode-ray tube aims electrons parallel to a nearby wire that carries current in the same direction. What will happen to the cathode rays in terms of deflection? The Attempt at a Solution [/B]The Motor force deflects the cathode rays ?
  45. naima

    How Does the Derivative Term Arise in the Commutator of Electromagnetic Fields?

    I start from these formulas(transverse electric and magnetic fields) ## E_\perp(r) = \Sigma_i i \mathscr E_{\omega_i}\epsilon_i [\alpha_i e^{i k_i . r}- \alpha^\dagger_i e^{-i k_i . r}]## and ##B(r) = \Sigma_i i(1/c) \mathscr E_{\omega_i}(\kappa_i \times \epsilon_i) [\alpha_i e^{i k_i . r}-...
  46. B

    Is B more analogous to D or to E (electromagnetism)?

    In the book I'm reading on electromagnetic fields, the authors seem to associate the magnetic flux density B with the electric flux density D, and the magnetic field H with the electric field E. Now, my question is, wouldn't it make more sense to say B is the analog to E? Because E and B are...
  47. R

    Artificial Magnetic Fields — Electromagnetism (Physics Gr12)

    Homework Statement Two parallel conductors each carry 10 A of current in the same direction. a) What is the magnetic field strength at the midpoint between these wires? (answer = 0T) b) What is the field strength at the same point if the current ran in opposite directions? (answer = 4.0x10^-4T)...
  48. U

    How is the Faraday Tensor related to the 4-potential?

    The Faraday Tensor is given by: Consider the following outer product with the 4-potential: The Faraday Tensor is related to the 4-potential: F^{mn} = \Box^{m} A^n - \Box^n A^m For example, ## F^{01} = -\frac{1}{c} \frac{\partial A^x}{\partial t} - \frac{1}{c}\frac{\partial...
  49. S

    What is the distance at which an antenna can receive signal?

    Homework Statement Assume that the power radiated by the television transmitter uniformly fills the upper hemisphere. A UHF television with a single-turn circular loop antenna of radius 8 cm requires a maximum induced voltage above 24 mV for operation. The speed of light is 2.99792 × 108 m/s...
  50. S

    How Much Power Can a Coaxial Cable Transmit Before Breakdown?

    Homework Statement A coaxial transmission line consists of an inner cylindrical conductor of radius 1mm and a cylindrical outer conductor chosen to make the characteristic impedance 75 ohms. The space between the conductors is filled with a gas that can stand a maximum field of 10^5 Vm^-1...
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