Maxwell's Equations

Introduction
Maxwell's equations are a set of coupled partial differential equations that, together
with the Lorentz force law, form the foundation of classical electromagnetism (is
a branch of theoretical physics that studies the interactions between electric
charges and currents using an extension of the classical Newtonian model).,
classical optics, and electric circuits.
The equations provide a mathematical model for electric, optical, and radio
technologies, such as power generation, electric motors, wireless communication,
lenses, radar etc. They describe how electric and magnetic fields are generated
by charges, currents, and changes of the fields. 
The equations are named after the physicist and mathematician James Clerk
Maxwell, who, between 1861 and 1862, published an early form of the equations that
included the Lorentz force law.
Maxwell first used the equations to propose that light is an electromagnetic
phenomenon.
An important consequence of Maxwell's equations is that they demonstrate how
fluctuating electric and magnetic fields propagate at a constant speed (c) in a
vacuum. Known as electromagnetic radiation, these waves may occur at various
wavelengths to produce a spectrum of light from radio waves to gamma rays.

Note: Lorentz Force is the force on a charged particle due to electric and magnetic

fields. ... This force acts at right angles to both the magnetic field and the velocity of
the particle. The right hand rule is applied when determining Lorentz force.
The potential energy depends on the velocity of the particle, so the force is
velocity dependent, so it is not conservative. ( conservative force is a force with
the property that the total work done in moving a particle between two points is independent
of the path taken/ or the work done by conservative force around the closed path is zero. Eg:
Gravitaional force, electrostatic force b/w two charges, magnetic forces between the poles)

OR
In physics (specifically in electromagnetism) the Lorentz force (or
electromagnetic force) is the combination of electric and magnetic force
on a point charge due to electromagnetic fields. A particle of charge q

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 moving with a velocity v in an electric field E and a magnetic field B
experiences a force given by:
F= Eq + (B x qV)

Maxwell's equations are:

1. Gauss's law electricity: 

2. Gauss's law for magnetism: 

3. Faraday's law: 

4. Ampère's Circuital law:

1. Gauss's law in electricity: The earliest of the four Maxwell's equations to have been
discovered (in the equivalent form of Coulomb's law) was Gauss's law. It states that the total
charge contained within a closed surface is proportional to the total electric flux (sum of the
normal component of the field) across the surface:

Electric charges produce an electric field. The electric flux across a closed surface is

proportional to the charge enclosed.

2. Gauss's law for magnetism: There are no magnetic monopoles. The magnetic flux across a

closed surface is zero. Although magnetic dipoles can produce an analogous magnetic flux,
which carries a similar mathematical form, there exist no equivalent magnetic monopoles, and
therefore the total "magnetic charge" over all space must sum to zero.

3. Faraday's law: Time-varying magnetic fields produce an electric field. The electric and

magnetic fields become intertwined when the fields undergo time evolution. In the
1820s, Faraday discovered that a change in magnetic flux produces an electric field over a
closed loop. This relation is now called Faraday's law.

4. Ampère's law: Steady currents and time-varying electric fields produce a magnetic field.

These equations are four partial derivative equations involving E ; D ; J ; B ; H and volume
charge density, rho (ρ).

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1st Law: From Gauss Law in Electrostatics
Q
We know, Φ = ε0

Now, the relationship between surface integral of electric flux density,

D to the charge enclosed Q, is given by :
∯ D. ds
s = Qencl --------------(1)
Now total charge Q = volume integral of charge density, ρ, throughout the
volume enclosed by given closed surface.

∭ ρ dv
i.e. Q = v -----------------(2)
From (1) & (2) we have,

∯ D . ds ∭ρ dv
s = v ---------- (3) MW’s 1st Eqn in
Integral from.
Now, applying divergence theorem,

∯ D. ds ∭ ( ∇ . D ) dv
s = v ---------------(4)

Solving (3) and (4), we get ∇.D=ρ …………MW’s 1st eqn in point form.

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2nd Law: From Gauss Law in Magnetism

We know that, Magnetic monopole does not exist, implies that the surface integral of a magnetic
field over a closed surface S is Zero (0), as magnetic flux cannot be stored.
Therefore, the magnetic component of Gauss law is given by:

∯ B . ds = 0
s ……. MW 2nd Eqn in integral form

Similarly, applying divergence theorem and solving we get,

∇ . B= 0 ……… MW 2nd Eqn in point form.

3rd Law: From Faraday’s Law of EM induction

dφ
−
We Know , e = dt , from Faraday’s Law …………….(1)

But Φ = surface integral of B ( magnetic flux density) over an open area

∬ B. ds ……………….(2)
i.e. Φ= s

d ∬ B.
−
Now from (1) & (2) we have, e = dt s ds ------------(3)
But emf ‘e’ induced in terms of electric field intensity, E around a closed path is
given by: e = ∮ E . dl ------------------------(4)
Now from (3) & (4), we have
d ∬ B.
−
∮ E . dl = dt s ds -------------(5) MW’s 3rd Eqn.(integral form)

Now applying Stokes’ theorem, where

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 ∬ curl E . ds ∬ ( ∇ x E ) . ds
∮ E . dl = s = s ----------------(6)
Comparing and solving (4) & (6), we get
dB
−
∇x E = dt MW’s 3rd Eqn in point form

4th Law: From Ampere’s Circuital law

The line integral of Magnetic field intensity H around a closed contour is equal to
current enclosed, I

i.e. ∮ H dl = I ------------------------(1)
But I = surface integral of current density vector ‘J’ over the open area bounded
by the path of integration,

∮H ∬J
Therefore, c . dl = s . ds -------------------------(2)

= ∬ ( curl H ) . ds

Also current density, J = J c + Jd = sum of conduction and displacement

current densities respectively.

i.e. J =
J c + Jd

dD
J = σ E + dt -----------(3)

∮H ∬ (σ E + ddtD ) . ds
Put (3) in (2), we get c . dl = s ------(4)
But electric flux density, D = ε E

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 ∮H ∬ (σ E + ε dE
dt )
. ds
∴ (4) becomes c . dl = s ------------(5)
This is MW 4th equation in integral form (or area form) derived from
Ampere’s Law.
Now applying Stokes’ theorem, where

∬ curl H . ds
∮ H . dl = s ----------------(6)

∬ ( ∇ x H ) . ds
= s

dD
Now comparing and solving (4) and (6) we get, Curl H = σ E + dt

dD
i.e. ∇ x H = Jc + dt

∇= ∂ i+ ∂ j+ ∂ k
where dx ∂ y ∂z
dE
σE+ε
∇ xH = dt -------- MW’s 4th Eqn in point/ differential
form and refers to a point in a given em field.

MW Equations in Tabular form

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Physical significance of Maxwell’s 1st equation:

According to this total electric flux through any closed surface is 1/ 0 times the total
charge enclosed by the closed surfaces, representing Gauss's law of electrostatics, As
this does not , divergence of electric field isdepend on time, it is a steady state
equation. Here for positive  divergence of electric field is positive and for negative
 divergence is negative. It indicates that  is a scalar quantity.
Physical significance of 2nd equation:

It represents Gauss law of magnetostatic as ∇ . B = 0 resulting that isolated magnetic

poles or magnetic monopoles cannot exist as they appear only in pairs and there is no
source or sink for magnetic lines of forces. It is also independent of time i.e. steady
state equation.
Physical significance of 3rd equation
It shows that with time varying magnetic flux, electric field is produced in
accordance with Faraday is law of electromagnetic induction. This is a time
dependent equation.
Physical significance of 4th equation
This is a time dependent equation which represents the modified differential form of
Ampere's circuital law according to which magnetic field is produced due to
combined effect of conduction current density and displacement current density.