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{{redirect|Classical electrodynamics|the textbook by J. D. Jackson|Classical Electrodynamics (book)}}
{{short description|Branch of theoretical physics
{{electromagnetism|cTopic=Electrodynamics}}
'''Classical electromagnetism''' or '''classical electrodynamics''' is a branch of [[theoretical physics]] that studies the interactions between [[electric charge]]s and [[electrical current|currents]] using an extension of the [[classical Newtonian model]]. It is, therefore, a [[classical field theory]]. The theory provides a description of electromagnetic phenomena whenever the relevant [[length scale]]s and field strengths are large enough that [[quantum mechanical]] effects are negligible. For small distances and low field strengths, such interactions are better described by [[quantum electrodynamics]] which is a [[quantum field theory]].
Fundamental physical aspects of classical electrodynamics are presented in many textbooks. For the undergraduate level, textbooks like ''[[The Feynman Lectures on Physics]]'', [[Electricity and Magnetism (book)|''Electricity and Magnetism'']], and ''[[Introduction to Electrodynamics]]'' are considered as classic references and for the graduate level, textbooks like ''Classical Electricity and Magnetism'',<ref>{{cite book | last1=Panofsky | first1=W. K. H. | author1-link=Pief Panofsky | last2=Phillips | first2=M. | author2-link=Melba Phillips | title=Classical Electricity and Magnetism | publisher=[[Dover Publications|Dover]] |date=2005 | isbn=9780486439242 | url=https://store.doverpublications.com/0486439240.html}}</ref> [[Classical Electrodynamics (book)|''Classical Electrodynamics'']], and ''[[Course of Theoretical Physics]]'' are considered as classic references.
== History ==
{{Main|History of electromagnetism}}
The physical phenomena that electromagnetism describes have been studied as separate fields since antiquity. For example, there were many advances in the field of [[History of optics|optics]] centuries before light was understood to be an electromagnetic wave. However, the theory of [[electromagnetism]], as it is currently understood, grew out of [[Michael Faraday]]'s experiments suggesting the existence of an [[electromagnetic field]] and [[James Clerk Maxwell]]'s use of [[differential equation]]s to describe it in his ''[[A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism]]'' (1873). The development of electromagnetism in Europe included the development of methods to measure [[voltage]], [[Electric current|current]], [[capacitance]], and [[Electrical resistance and conductance|resistance]].
== Lorentz force ==
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where all boldfaced quantities are [[Vector (geometric)|vectors]]: {{math|'''F'''}} is the force that a particle with charge ''q'' experiences, {{math|'''E'''}} is the [[electric field]] at the location of the particle, {{math|'''v'''}} is the velocity of the particle, {{math|'''B'''}} is the [[magnetic field]] at the location of the particle.
The above equation illustrates that the Lorentz force is the sum of two vectors.
Although the equation appears to suggest that the electric and magnetic fields are independent, the equation [[Covariant formulation of classical electromagnetism#Lorentz force|can be rewritten]] in term of [[four-current]] (instead of charge) and a single [[electromagnetic tensor]] that represents the combined field (<math>F^{\mu \nu}</math>):
:<math>f_{\alpha} = F_{\alpha\beta}J^{\beta} .\!</math>
==Electric field==
{{Main|Electric field}}
The
:<math>
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</math>
where ''q''<sub>0</sub> is what is known as a test charge and {{math|'''F'''}} is the [[Electrostatic force|force]] on that charge. The size of the charge
In electrostatics, where charges are not moving, around a distribution of point charges, the forces determined from [[Coulomb's law]] may be summed. The result after dividing by ''q''<sub>0</sub> is:
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</math>
where
Unfortunately, this definition has a caveat. From [[Maxwell's equations]], it is clear that {{nowrap|∇ × '''E'''}} is not always zero, and hence the scalar potential alone is insufficient to define the electric field exactly.
From the definition of charge, one can easily show that the electric potential of a point charge as a function of position is:
:<math>
\varphi \mathbf{(r)} = \frac{1}{4 \pi \varepsilon_0 }
\sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{q_i} {\left| \mathbf{r} - \mathbf{r}_i \right|}
</math>
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</math>
where <math>\rho(\mathbf{r'})</math> is the
The scalar ''φ'' will add to other potentials as a scalar. This makes it relatively easy to break complex problems down
:<math> \mathbf{E(r)} = -\nabla \varphi \mathbf{(r)} .</math>
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{{Main|Electromagnetic waves}}
A changing electromagnetic field propagates away from its origin in the form of a [[wave]]. These waves travel in vacuum at the [[speed of light]] and exist in a wide [[electromagnetic spectrum|spectrum]] of [[wavelength]]s. Examples of the dynamic fields of [[electromagnetic radiation]] (in order of increasing frequency): [[radio wave]]s, [[microwave]]s, [[light]] ([[infrared]], [[visible light]]
== General field equations ==
{{Main|Jefimenko's equations|Liénard–Wiechert potential}}
As simple and satisfying as Coulomb's equation may be, it is not entirely correct in the context of classical electromagnetism.
For the fields of general charge distributions, the retarded potentials can be computed and differentiated accordingly to yield
Retarded potentials can also be derived for point charges, and the equations are known as the
:<math>
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</math>
where
:<math>
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== Models ==
Branches of classical electromagnetism such as optics, electrical and electronic engineering consist of a collection of relevant [[mathematical model]]s of different degrees of simplification and idealization to enhance the understanding of specific electrodynamics phenomena
:(a) electrical charges and currents, e.g.
:(b) electromagnetic fields, e.g. voltages, the Liénard–Wiechert potentials, the monochromatic plane waves, optical rays
:(c) transmission media, e.g. electronic components, antennas, electromagnetic waveguides,
== See also ==
* [[Mathematical descriptions of the electromagnetic field]]
* [[Weber electrodynamics]]
* [[Wheeler–Feynman absorber theory]]
== References ==
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