Open AccessUnit system independent formulation of electrodynamics
Author(s) -
Dietmar Petrascheck
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1361-6404
pISSN - 0143-0807
DOI - 10.1088/1361-6404/abe8c6
Subject(s) - heaviside step function , physics , international system of units , covariant transformation , gauss , classical electromagnetism , maxwell's equations , basis (linear algebra) , representation (politics) , metric (unit) , classical mechanics , mathematical physics , mathematical analysis , quantum mechanics , mathematics , geometry , operations management , politics , political science , law , economics , metrology
Nowadays Maxwell’s equations are formulated merely in the SI system. Physicists should also be familiar with other systems, like the systems of Gauss and Heaviside, but a comparison of equations in different systems is sometimes annoying. In a unified notation it is easier to switch from one system to another and to recognize the consequences of the chosen system. In covariant electrodynamics the comparison of the different systems is based on a frequently used representation of the pseudo-Euclidean metric with four-dimensional electromagnetic quantities. The key role between different systems have the mechanical forces between charges, currents and magnetic poles. They build the basis of the systems and their units.