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BVM
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Quite a vague question here, and I'm not entirely sure I'll be able to get a satisfying answer out of this one, but here goes.
Fields such as the electric or magnetic field are introduced as vector fields that allow you to calculate a force at a certain point in space. In this interpretation they are conceptually on exactly the same footing as an 'action at a distance' theory such as Newton's gravity.
However, as you progress in electrodynamics, you learn that the fields have energy and momentum stored inside them. Now I understood how energy could be stored in a certain charge configuration (and thus it could be modeled as 'stored inside of the field'). But the idea of the electromagnetic field having a certain amount of momentum seemed bizarre to me. Does this mean I have to abandon the idea of the field being something purely mathematical altogether, or is there some sort of analogy or explanation that can help me understand it?
Thanks.
Fields such as the electric or magnetic field are introduced as vector fields that allow you to calculate a force at a certain point in space. In this interpretation they are conceptually on exactly the same footing as an 'action at a distance' theory such as Newton's gravity.
However, as you progress in electrodynamics, you learn that the fields have energy and momentum stored inside them. Now I understood how energy could be stored in a certain charge configuration (and thus it could be modeled as 'stored inside of the field'). But the idea of the electromagnetic field having a certain amount of momentum seemed bizarre to me. Does this mean I have to abandon the idea of the field being something purely mathematical altogether, or is there some sort of analogy or explanation that can help me understand it?
Thanks.