Scottish physicist best known for his formulation of

electromagnetic theory. He is regarded by most modern

physicists as the scientist of the 19th century who had the greatest
influence on 20th-century physics, and he is ranked with Sir Isaac
Newton and Albert Einstein for the fundamental nature of his
contributions. In the 1860's and 1870's,
Einstein described a Scottish scientist
named James Clerk
the change in the Maxwell developed a
conception of scientific theory to
reality in physics explain electromagnetic
that resulted from waves. He noticed that
Maxwell’s work as electrical fields and
magnetic fields can
“the most couple together to form
profound and the electromagnetic waves.
most fruitful that He summarized this
physics has relationship between
experienced since electricity and
magnetism into what are
the time of now referred to as
Newton.” "Maxwell's Equations."

Electricity, Magnetism and Optics

Maxwell’s equations showed that electricity and
magnetism are two sides of the same coin, and that
light is that coin in movement. By combining his
in e
l
equations, Maxwell predicted that, in certain
cases, the effects of an electrical charge or a
m e
i
magnet would be felt at a far distance,
because their electromagnetic fields
could travel in the form of waves;
according to his calculations,
T
these waves would travel at the 5th-3rd B.C.
speed of light, so he assumed “The essence of light is
that light was an white light. Colors are
made up of a mixture
electromagnetic wave. of lightness and
darkness.” (Aristotle)
10th-11th Centuries

Electromagnetic
Waves
Electricity can be static, like the 17th Century
-Particle Theory of
energy that can make your hair Light and Newton's
prims experiment
stand on end. Magnetism can also - He Shown light
be static, as it is in a refrigerator through a small slit in
a dark room and saw
magnet. A changing magnetic color fringes on the
field will induce a changing wall. This experiment
actually showed light
electric field and vice-versa—the diffracting. (Francisco
Grimaldi)
two are linked. These changing
He left major historic
works including the
“Book of Optics” that
covers experiments and
observation on light
reflection and refraction
through the use of
lenses and mirrors. He
also contributed on the
discovery of reflection
reflection mirrors. (Ibn
al-Haytham (Alhazen)
19th Century
- Double Slit Experiment
Performed ( Thomas
Young)
- Shone monochromatic

light through a single slit

fields form electromagnetic
waves. Electromagnetic waves 20th century
differ from mechanical waves in - He used Max Plank's
quanta hypothesis to
that they do not require a explain the Photo
-Electric Effect after no one
medium to propagate. This else was able to. (Einstein)
and the result showed an
interference pattern.
- He discovered that a
moving electric field can
induce a magnetic field.
(Maxwell)
- He found that energy was
absorbed in discrete
bundles. He called these
bundles “quanta”. (Planck)

means that electromagnetic - He conducted the double

slit experiment with protons
waves can travel not only through (particles in atoms) and got
the same interference
air and solid materials, but also pattern a wave would. (de
Broglie)
through the vacuum of space.
References:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Clerk-Maxwell
https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/physics/maxwell-and-the-mathematical-unification-of-the-physical-
world/
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/02_anatomy
https://photonterrace.net/en/photon/history/
https://www.sutori.com/en/story/history-of-light-timeline--pnfbTDny2AbeA3NAjE6AzJnj

Cena, De Manuel, Dela Cruz, M. 12-Pauling