Faraday versus Maxwell
555
27.6 Different formulation of the law of induction
Such a difference for instance is, that it is common practice to neglect the coupling
between the fields at low frequencies. While at high frequencies in the range of the
electromagnetic field the E- and the H-field are mutually dependent, at lower frequency
and small field change the process of induction drops correspondingly according to
Maxwell, so that a neglect seems to be allowed. Now electric or magnetic field can be
measured independently of each other. Usually is proceeded as if the other field is not
present at all.
That is not correct. A look at the Faraday-law immediately shows that even down to
frequency zero always both fields are present. The
field pointers however stand
perpendicular to each other, so that the magnetic field pointer wraps around the pointer of
the electric field in the form of a vortex ring in the case that the electric field strength is
being measured and vice versa. The closed-loop field lines are acting neutral to the
outside; they hence need no attention, so the normally used idea. It should be examined
more closely if this is sufficient as an explanation for the neglect of the not measurable
closed-loop field lines, or if not after all an effect arises from fields, which are present in
reality.
Another difference concerns the commutability of E- and H-field, as is shown by the
Faraday-generator, how a magnetic becomes an electric field and vice versa as a result of a
relative velocity v. This directly influences the physical-philosophic question: What is
meant by the electromagnetic field?
The textbook opinion based on the Maxwell equations names the static field of the charge
carriers as cause for the electric field, whereas moving ones cause the magnetic field. But
that hardly can have been the idea of Faraday, to whom the existence of charge carriers
was completely unknown. The for his contemporaries completely revolutionary abstract
field concept based on the works of the Croatian Jesuit priest Boscovich (1711-1778). In
the case of the field it should less concern a physical quantity in the usual sense, than
rather the experimental experience"' of an interaction according to his field description.
We should interprete the Faraday-law to the effect that we experience an electric field, if
we are moving with regard to a magnetic field with a relative velocity and vice versa.
In the commutability of electric and magnetic field a duality between the two is expressed,
which in the Maxwell formulation is lost, as soon as charge carriers are brought into play.
Is thus the Maxwell field the special case of a particle free field? Much evidence points to
it, because after all a light ray can run through a particle free vacuum. If however fields
can exist without particles, particles without fields however are impossible, then the field
should have been there first as the cause for the particles. Then the Faraday description
should form the basis, from which all other regularities can be derived.
What do the textbooks say to that?
556
Contradictory opinions in textbooks
Fig. 27.7: Different opinions and derivations
: K. Kupfmuller: Einfuhrung in die theoretische Elektrotechnik, 12. Auflage,
Springer Verlag 1988, Seite 228, Gl. 22.
: G. Bosse: Grundlagen der Elektrotechnik II, BI-Hochschultaschenbucher
Nr. 183, l.Aufl. 1967, Kap. 6.1 Induktion, Seite 58
: R. W. Pohl: Einfuhrung in die Physik, Band 2 Elektrizitatslehre, 21. Auflage,
Springer-Verlag 1975, Seite 77
Faraday versus Maxwell
557
27.7 Contradictory opinions in textbooks
Obviously there exist two formulations for the law of induction (27.1 and 27.1*), which
more or less have equal rights. Science stands for the question: which mathematical
description is the more efficient one? If one case is a special case of the other case, which
description then is the more universal one?
What Maxwell's field equations tell us is sufficiently known, so that derivations are
unnecessary. Numerous textbooks are standing by, if results should be cited. Let us hence
turn to the Faraday-law (27.1). Often one searches in vain for this law in schoolbooks.
Only in more pretentious books one makes a find under the keyword "unipolar induction".
If one however compares the number of pages, which are spent on the law of induction
according to Maxwell with the few pages for the unipolar induction, then one gets the
impression that the latter only is a unimportant special case for low frequencies.
Kupfmuller speaks of a ,,special form of the law of induction"
, and cites as practical
examples the induction in a brake disc and the Hall-effect. Afterwards Kupfmiiller derives
from the ,,special form" the ,,general form" of the law of induction according to Maxwell,
a postulated generalization, which needs an explanation. But a reason is not given
.
Bosse gives the same derivation, but for him the Maxwell-result is the special case and not
his Faraday approach
! In addition he addresses the Faraday-law as equation of
transformation and points out the meaning and the special interpretation.
On the other hand he derives the law from the Lorentz force, completely in the style of
Kupfmuller
and with that again takes it part of its autonomy. Pohl looks at that different.
He inversely derives the Lorentz force from the Faraday-law
.
By all means, the Faraday-law, which we want to base on instead of on the Maxwell
equations, shows ,,strange effects
" from the point of view of a Maxwell representative
of today and thereby but one side of the medal (eq. 27.1). Only in very few distinguished
textbooks the other side of the medal (eq. 27.2) is mentioned at all. In that way most
textbooks mediate a lopsided and incomplete picture
. If there should be talk about
equations of transformation, then the dual formulation belongs to it, then it concerns a pair
of equations, which describes the relations between the electric and the magnetic field.
If the by Bosse
prompted term ,,equation of transformation" is justified or not at first is
unimportant. That is a matter of discussion.
: K. Kupfmuller: Einfuhrung in die theoretische Elektrotechnik, 12.Aufl.,
Springer Verlag 1988, Seite 228, Gl. 22.
: G. Bosse: Grundlagen der Elektrotechnik II, BI-Hochschultaschenbucher
Nr.183, l.Aufl. 1967, Kap. 6.1 Induktion, Seite 58
: R.W.Pohl: Einfuhrung in die Physik, Bd.2 Elektrizitatslehre, 2 l.Aufl.
Springer-Verlag 1975, Seite 77
: G. Lehner: Elektromagnetische Feldtheorie, Springer-Lehrbuch 1990, 1.
Aufl., Seite 31 Kommentar zur Lorentzkraft (1.65)