Classical Electromagnetism

Abstract

The main topic of this course is Maxwell’s equations. These are a set of eight first order partial differential equations which constitute a complete description of electric and magnetic phenomena. To be more exact, Maxwell’s equations con- stitute a complete description of the behaviour of electric and magnetic fields. You are all, no doubt, quite familiar with the concepts of electric and magnetic fields, but I wonder how many of you can answer the following question. “Do electric and magnetic fields have a real physical existence or are they just the- oretical constructs which we use to calculate the electric and magnetic forces exerted by charged particles on one another?” In trying to formulate an answer to this question we shall, hopefully, come to a better understanding of the nature of electric and magnetic fields and the reasons why it is necessary to use these concepts in order to fully describe electric and magnetic phenomena.