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1 results

  • 1 - Physical Foundations

  • Jene A. Golovchenko, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Edlyn V. Levine, Harvard University, Massachusetts
  • Book:
    Lectures on Classical Electromagnetism
    Published online:
    16 October 2026
    Print publication:
    19 November 2026, pp 1-24
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  • Summary

    This chapter introduces the language and structure of classical electromagnetism as a field theory coupled to matter. It begins by motivating excitations of the electromagnetic field and their interactions with charged matter. Maxwell’s equations are presented in differential form and related to the charge and current densities that act as sources. The chapter develops a continuum description of charge and current, derives the continuity equation, and obtains equations of motion for charged matter in both continuum and particle form. Recasting Maxwell’s equations as wave equations emphasizes propagation of electromagnetic disturbances. Point-like electric and magnetic dipole sources are introduced, leading to the macroscopic electric displacement and auxiliary magnetic fields and the form of Maxwell’s equations in polarizable, magnetizable media. Finally, the chapter derives the conservation laws for electromagnetic energy, momentum, and angular momentum, connects them to simple continuum mechanics of charged matter, and closes with problems that reinforce these physical foundations.