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Electromagnetism

Definition

Electromagnetism refers to the branch of physics that deals with the interaction between electric currents or fields and magnetic fields. It encompasses phenomena such as electricity, magnetism, and the behavior of charged particles.

Analogy

Think of electromagnetism as a dance between electricity and magnetism. Just like how two people dancing together create beautiful movements, electromagnetism describes how electric currents and magnetic fields interact to produce various effects.

Related terms

Michael Faraday: Michael Faraday was an English scientist who made significant contributions to the study of electromagnetism. He discovered electromagnetic induction, which explains how a changing magnetic field can induce an electric current in a conductor.

James Clerk Maxwell: James Clerk Maxwell was a Scottish physicist who formulated a set of equations known as Maxwell's equations. These equations mathematically described the relationship between electric and magnetic fields, providing a unified theory of electromagnetism.

Hans Christian Ørsted: Hans Christian Ørsted was a Danish physicist who discovered that an electric current could deflect a compass needle, demonstrating for the first time the connection between electricity and magnetism. This discovery laid the foundation for understanding electromagnetism.