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Chapter 14:

Maxwells Theory
By Katie Zerr and Kristin Walker
Topics that will be covered: Electromagnetic Theory Displacement Current Michelson-Morley Experiment LIGO Precursors to Relativity

James Clerk Maxwell


Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1831 Attended Edinburgh Academy, The University of Edinburgh, and Cambridge University Published by the young age of 14

More on Maxwell
Maxwell differed from his contemporaries in the nineteenth century Faraday & Ampere contributed to Maxwells theories Much of his important work was accomplished between the ages of 29 and 35

Aether
Appendix of Chapter 13
When we observe one body acting on another at a distance . . . we generally inquire whether there is any material connection between the two bodies . . . we prefer to explain the action by means of these intermediate connections, rather than to admit the notion of direct action at a distance.

Maxwells Contributions
Analysis of color perception An explanation of Saturns rings Analysis of the theory of fluids and solids Helped father modern statistical mechanics and the molecular theory of gases

Theory of Electromagnetism Maxwells equations

Maxwells Equations
Gausss Law, no monopoles, Amperes Law and Faradays Law

Prior to the Displacement Current


Magnetic field generated solely by electric charge in motion Amperes Law: B = (4/c)j It was also thought (and still is) that electric charge cannot be created or destroyed the continuity equation: J + /t = 0

Combined, give the result that the amount of electric charge at any particular place never changes mathematical contradiction

Displacement Current
1st story
Conflict could be resolved by modifying Amperes Law so that both electric current and displacement current generate the magnetic field:

Displacement Current
2nd story
For a time dependent electric field, a material medium would become polarized, just as a dielectric does
E

-+
For a constant E field, each pair of charges soon equilibrates as shown above If the E field varies with time, then the charge configurations are constantly in motion displacement current

The Final Classical Theory


1865 paper A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field did not discuss vortices and idle wheels Classical mechanics was used as model After consistent defeat, mechanical models abandoned Electromagnetic theory distinct branch of physics

Albert Michelson (1852-1931)


American experimental physicist Devoted his life to making extremely accurate measurements of the speed of light Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907 for his efforts 1887 collaborated with Edward Morley to perform an experiment sensitive enough to detect the earths motion through the aether

Michelson Morley Experiment


Swimmers race across the river

Michelson-Morley Animation
http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.ed u/more_stuff/flashlets/mmexpt6.htm

LIGO
LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory Similar apparatus to Michelson-Morley Run into same problem- trying to block out high frequency sounds that disrupt results They hang apparatus while Michelson and Morley suspended theirs in mercury

Precursors to Relativity
FitzGerald (1851-1901) could avoid negative result of Michelson-Morley experiment Contraction hypothesis was independently postulated by Hendrik Lorentz Lorentz manipulated equations and are called Lorentz transformations today Lorentz-FitzGerald contraction hypothesis

Precursors to Relativity (cond)


Poincar postulated that
optical phenomena depend only on the relative motions of the material bodies

He questioned the existence of aether In 1904 he determined his principle of relativity Lorentz came up with a theory of electrons consistent with Poincars principle but still left room for the aether

Conclusion
Maxwell provided us with modern physical and mathematical equations Many contributions to physics even though his belief in the existence of aether was not valid Michelson-Morley experiment proved aether wrong LIGO today uses similar apparatus and encounters similar problems

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