On the birth of electromagnetic theory.: Faraday and Maxwell

• Autores: Raffaele Pisano
• Localización: The Circulation of Science and Technology: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference of the European Society for the History of Science. Barcelona, 18-20 November 2010 / coord. por Antoni M. Roca Rosell, 2012, ISBN 978-84-9965-108-8, págs. 514-515
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • In the 19th century, a complex system of approaches, models, and theories circulated. In order to interpret mathematically any kind of motion by means of central forces –differential equations–, a mechanical scientific program was presented by Laplace (1749-1827) in Traité de Mécanique céleste (1805). Fourier (1768-1830) proposed a strong mathematical approach by differential equations (1807; 1822) without considering nature of heat and experiments. For new fields of electricity and magnetism phenomena, Ampère (1775-1836) also presented a mathematical approach (1820; 1828) based on previous Ørsted’s (1777-1851) experiments (1820);

    latter showed that new and non-mathematical interaction, outside of mechanical foundations, could be observed. In this view, the lack of infinitesimal analysis in Sadi Carnot’s (1796-1832) theory (1824), in Ørsted’s works and in Faraday’s (1791-1867) Experimental Researches in Electricity (1839-1855) are emblematical expectations. Particularly, Faraday –without any formula– introduced the basis for the concepts of field and vectors in electromagnetic induction theory. After the second half of the 19th century a mathematical approach still strongly emerged. Stressing the mathematics-physics relationship, many theories were included in mechanics becoming new «rational-analytical» theories, where principles «ne présuppose aucune loi physique» and experimental studies were not in attendance. E.g., in the wake of Fourier, propagation, velocity applied, etc… was proposed (1861) by Lamé (1795-1870). In late (electrothermal and) electromagnetic theory an advanced use of mathematics was presented (1864-1873) by Maxwell (1831-1879) to mechanically explain («vortex») new Faraday’s phenomena by means of a unique mathematical scheme described by his four equations. Even if he frequently claimed that his work (Treatise) is a mathematical interpretation of Faraday’s physics, the approach was strongly different: abstract concepts and new mathematical problems. The four equations and Lorentz’s law essentially completed the classical electromagnetic theory.