Daniel M. Siegel

Innovation in Maxwell's Electromagnetic Theory

Molecular Vortices, Displacement Current, and Light

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Siegel's close analysis of the original texts reveals that mechanical modeling played a crucial role in Maxwell's initial conceptualizations of the displacement current and the electromagnetic character of light.

James Clerk Maxwell's (1831-1879) contributions to twentieth-century science and technology - in particular, the displacement current and the electromagnetic theory of light - are among the most spectacular innovations in the history of physics, but the technical complexities and thematic subtleties of his work have been difficult to unravel. In considering the historical development of Maxwell's work, Dr Siegel's close analysis of the original texts - with careful attention to the equations as well as to the words - reveals that mechanical modeling played a crucial role in Maxwell's initial conceptualizations of the displacement current and the electromagnetic character of light. Beyond this, Siegel locates Maxwell's work in the full sweep of nineteenth-century electromagnetic theory - from Oersted, Ampere, and Faraday, through Hertz and Lorentz - and in the context of the methodological traditions and perspectives of early physics research at the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge.

Table of content:
Preface; Introduction; 1. The background to Maxwell's electromagnetic theory; 2. Mechanical image and reality in Maxwell's electromagnetic theory; 3. The elaboration of the molecular-vortex model; 4. The introduction of the displacement current; 5. The origin of the electromagnetic theory of light; 6. Beyond molecular vortices; Conclusion; Appendices.

---

Hinweis: Dieser Artikel kann nur an eine deutsche Lieferadresse ausgeliefert werden.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Seitenzahl: 240
• Erscheinungstermin: 9. Dezember 2002
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 14mm
• Gewicht: 396g
• ISBN-13: 9780521533294
• ISBN-10: 0521533295
• Artikelnr.: 21318169

Inhaltsangabe

Preface
Introduction
1. The background to Maxwell's electromagnetic theory
2. Mechanical image and reality in Maxwell's electromagnetic theory
3. The elaboration of the molecular-vortex model
4. The introduction of the displacement current
5. The origin of the electromagnetic theory of light
6. Beyond molecular vortices
Conclusion
Appendices.