Maxwell's equations

Also known as Maxwell equations, Maxwell's laws

set of partial differential equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated and altered by each other and by charges and currents

AI overview

Maxwell's equations are a set of mathematical rules that describe how electric and magnetic fields are created and how they interact with each other and with electric charges and currents. These equations form the foundation of our understanding of electricity, magnetism, and light, making them essential to modern technology and physics.

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publication date: 1861-00-00
Stack Exchange tag: physics.stackexchange.com/tags/maxwell-equations
Commons category: Maxwell's equations

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Maxwell's equations on a plaque attached to his statue in Edinburgh Maxwell's equations are a set of coupled partial differential equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated by electric charges and currents. Together with the Lorentz force law, they form the foundation of classical electromagnetism, classical optics, electric and magnetic circuits. The equations provide a mathematical model for electric, optical, and radio technologies, such as power generation, electric motors, wireless communication, lenses, radar, etc.

Maxwell's equations have two major variants: