Sunday, July 17, 2011

Transforming the second, third and fourth Maxwell equation

all topics by author introduction to relativity contents-mathematics of relativity contents-transforming electromagnetic fields previous: transforming Maxwell equations-intro and 1st ME next: separating the transformed Maxwell equations

17. Transforming the second, third and fourth Maxwell equations

Transforming the second Maxwell equation

We start transforming the second Maxwell equation. This is a vector equation:

beginning transformation of the second Maxwell equation

Because of its complexity, we now finish the transformation component-by-component:


transformation of the x component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the x component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the x component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the x component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the x component of the second Maxwell equation


transformation of the y component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the second Maxwell equation

ransformation of the y component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the second Maxwell equation

Note that 1/γ2 = 1 − β2 where β = V/c  (see the definition of  γ ).


transformation of the z component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the second Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the second Maxwell equation


Transformation of the third Maxwell equation

The third Maxwell equation transforms similarly to the first one above:


transformation of the third Maxwell equation

transformation of the third Maxwell equation

transformation of the third Maxwell equation


Transformation of the fourth Maxwell equation

The fourth Maxwell equation is a vector equation and will transform in a similar manner to the second Maxwell equation above. We start by transforming the left side of the fourth Maxwell equation:

start of transformation of the fourth Maxwell equation

Now we transform this component-by-component:


transformation of the x component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the x component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the x component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the x component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the x component of the fourth Maxwell equation



transformation of the y component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the y component of the fourth Maxwell equation



transformation of the z component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the fourth Maxwell equation

transformation of the z component of the fourth Maxwell equation


The right side of the fourth Maxwell equation is transformed as:

start of transformation of the fourth Maxwell equation

where we have used the relation:   c2 = 1/(ε0μ0 ) which can be solved for μ0, i.e.: μ0 = 1/(c2ε0) .

Combining the above equations, we get:

transformed fourth Maxwell equation

all topics by author introduction to relativity contents-mathematics of relativity contents-transforming electromagnetic fields previous: transforming Maxwell equations-intro and 1st ME next: separating the transformed Maxwell equations