Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Maxwell Equations: Basics and Applications

In course

PHYS-324: Classical electrodynamics

The goal of this course is the study of the physical and conceptual consequences of Maxwell equations. ...

Description

This lecture introduces Maxwell equations, which describe how the electromagnetic field interacts with charges and currents. The instructor explains the four main equations, the physical meaning of each term, and the importance of locality in electromagnetism. The lecture also covers the concept of fields, the Lawrence force, and the role of forces in predicting particle motion.

This video is available exclusively on Mediaspace for a restricted audience. Please log in to MediaSpace to access it if you have the necessary permissions.

Watch on Mediaspace

Instructor

Victor Gorbenko

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Physics

Electromagnetism: Electrodynamics

Related concepts (18)

Electromagnetic field

An electromagnetic field (also EM field or EMF) is a classical (i.e. non-quantum) field produced by moving electric charges. It is the field described by classical electrodynamics (a classical field theory) and is the classical counterpart to the quantized electromagnetic field tensor in quantum electrodynamics (a quantum field theory). The electromagnetic field propagates at the speed of light (in fact, this field can be identified as light) and interacts with charges and currents.

Electromagnetism

In physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge via electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is the dominant force in the interactions of atoms and molecules. Electromagnetism can be thought of as a combination of electrostatics and magnetism, two distinct but closely intertwined phenomena.

Electromagnetic tensor

In electromagnetism, the electromagnetic tensor or electromagnetic field tensor (sometimes called the field strength tensor, Faraday tensor or Maxwell bivector) is a mathematical object that describes the electromagnetic field in spacetime. The field tensor was first used after the four-dimensional tensor formulation of special relativity was introduced by Hermann Minkowski. The tensor allows related physical laws to be written very concisely, and allows for the quantization of the electromagnetic field by Lagrangian formulation described below.

Maxwell's equations

Maxwell's equations, or Maxwell–Heaviside equations, are a set of coupled partial differential equations that, together with the Lorentz force law, form the foundation of classical electromagnetism, classical optics, and electric circuits. The equations provide a mathematical model for electric, optical, and radio technologies, such as power generation, electric motors, wireless communication, lenses, radar, etc. They describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated by charges, currents, and changes of the fields.

Classical electromagnetism

Classical electromagnetism or classical electrodynamics is a branch of theoretical physics that studies the interactions between electric charges and 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 scales 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.

Related lectures (33)

Electromagnetic Phenomena

Introduces the importance of studying electromagnetic phenomena and Maxwell's equations.

Dispersion Relation in Vacuum

Covers Maxwell's equations, unit systems, Fourier transform, and charge conservation with exercises on wave equations and dispersion relations.

Time-dependent quantum mechanics: semiclassical atom-radiation interactions

Explores semiclassical atom-radiation interactions, transition probabilities, Rabi oscillations, and spontaneous emission.

Introduction to Actuators

Introduces actuators, sensors integration, historical developments, innovative technologies, and the origins of magnetism and electricity.

Cosmological Puzzles: Dark Matter and Energy