Electromagnetism
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For a more accessible and less technical introduction to this topic,
see Introduction to electromagnetism.
"Electromagnetic" redirects here. Electromagnetic may also refer to the use of
an electromagnet.
"Electromagnetic force" redirects here. For the force exerted on particles by
electromagnetic fields, see Lorentz force.
Aurora at Alaska showing light created by charged particles and magnetism, fundamental concepts to electromagnetism study
Articles about
Electromagnetism
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 [1]
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. [2]
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.
Contents
1History of the theory
2Fundamental forces
3Classical electrodynamics
4Extension to nonlinear phenomena
5Quantities and units
6See also
7References
8Further reading
8.1Web sources
8.2Textbooks
8.3General coverage
9External links
History of the theory
See also: History of electromagnetic theory
Jump to navigationJump to search
For a more accessible and less technical introduction to this topic,
see Introduction to electromagnetism.
"Electromagnetic" redirects here. Electromagnetic may also refer to the use of
an electromagnet.
"Electromagnetic force" redirects here. For the force exerted on particles by
electromagnetic fields, see Lorentz force.
Aurora at Alaska showing light created by charged particles and magnetism, fundamental concepts to electromagnetism study
Articles about
Electromagnetism
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 [1]
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. [2]
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.
Contents
1History of the theory
2Fundamental forces
3Classical electrodynamics
4Extension to nonlinear phenomena
5Quantities and units
6See also
7References
8Further reading
8.1Web sources
8.2Textbooks
8.3General coverage
9External links
History of the theory
See also: History of electromagnetic theory
