James Maxwell The brief biography of English physics, the creator of classical electrodynamics, one of the founders of statistical physics is set out in this article.
James Clerk Maxwell Biography briefly
Maxwell James Clerk was born on June 13, 1831 in Edinburgh in the Scottish Nobleman family. At 10 years he entered the Edinburgh Academy, where he became the first student.
From 1847 to 1850 studied at the University of Edinburgh. Here, fond of experiments in chemistry, optics, magnetism, was engaged in mathematics, physics, mechanics. Three years later, to continue their education, James turned into a Cambridge Trinity College and began to study electricity on the book M. Faraday. Then proceeded to experimental electricity research.
After the successful end of the college (1854), a young scientist was invited to teaching work. Two years later, he wrote an article "On Faraday Power Lines".
At the same time, Maxwell was developing a kinetic theory of gases. He brought the law according to which gas molecules are distributed in the speeds of movement (Maxwell's distribution).
In 1856-1860. Maxwell - Professor of the University of Aberdeen; In 1860-1865 He taught in the Royal College London, where he first met with Faraday. It was during this period that its main work "Dynamic theory of the electromagnetic field" (1864-180-865) was created, in which the patterns detected by it are expressed in the form of systems from four differential equations (Maxwell equations). The scientist argued that the changing magnetic field forms in the surrounding bodies and in vacuum a vortex electric field, and it, in turn, causes the appearance of a magnetic field.
This discovery has become a new stage in the knowledge of the world. A. Poincare considered Maxwell's theory of the vertex of mathematical thought. Maxwell suggested that electromagnetic waves should exist and that the speed of their propagation is equal to the speed of light. So, the light is a variety of electromagnetic waves. He theoretically substantiated such a phenomenon as the pressure of light.
Maxwell, James Clerk(Maxwell, James Clerk) (1831-1879), English physicist. Born on June 13, 1831 in Edinburgh in the family of a Scottish nobleman from a notable kind of clerk. He studied first in Edinburgh (1847-1850), then in Cambridge (1850-1854) universities. In 1855, he became a member of the Trinity College Council, in 1856-1860 was a professor of Marisal College of Aberdeen University, from 1860 he headed the Department of Physics and Astronomy in Kings College of the University of London. In 1865, due to a serious illness, Maxwell refused to the department and settled in his childbirth, Glenlare near Edinburgh. He continued to engage in science, wrote several writings in physics and mathematics. In 1871, the University of Cambridge took the Department of Experimental Physics. Organized a research laboratory, which opened on June 16, 1874 and was named Cavendish - in honor of G. Kavedish.
Maxwell fulfilled his first scientific work at school, inventing a simple way of drawing oval figures. This work was reported at a meeting of the royal society and even published in his "works." A member of the Trinity College Council, he was experiments on the theory of colors, speaking as a follower of Young's theory and the theory of three main colors of the Helmholtz. In the mixing experiments, Maxwell applied a special top, the disc of which was divided into sectors painted in different colors (Maxwell disk). With a quick spin rotation, the color merged: if the disc was painted as the colors of the spectrum, it seemed white; If one half of half was painted in red, and the other was yellow, he seemed orange; Mixing blue and yellow created the impression of green. In 1860, for work on the perception of color and optics, Maxwell was awarded the Medal of Rumford.
In 1857, the University of Cambridge announced a competition for the best work on the stability of the rings of Saturn. These formations were opened by Galileem at the beginning of the 17th century. And they represented an amazing riddle of nature: the planet seemed surrounded by three solid concentric rings consisting of a substance of an unknown nature. Laplace proved that they cannot be solid. After conducting a mathematical analysis, Maxwell was convinced that they could not be liquid, and came to the conclusion that such a structure could be stable only if the meteorites were not connected from the Roy. The stability of the rings is ensured by attraction to Saturn and the mutual movement of the planet and meteorites. For this work, Maxwell received J. Adams Prize.
One of the first works of Maxwell was his kinetic gases theory. In 1859, the scientist spoke at a meeting of the British Association with a report, which led the distribution of molecules in speeds (Maxwell distribution). Maxwell developed the submission of his predecessor in the development of the kinetic theory of Gaza R. Clausius, which introduced the concept of "medium length of free run." Maxwell proceeded from the presentation of Gaza as an ensemble of a set of perfectly elastic balls, chaotic moving in a closed space. The balls (molecules) can be divided into groups in terms of speeds, while in the stationary state the number of molecules in each group remains constant, although they can exit groups and enter them. From such a consideration, it followed that "the particles are distributed in speeds on the same law, which observational errors are distributed in the theory of the least squares method, i.e. In accordance with Gauss Statistics. " As part of its theory, Maxwell explained the Avogadro law, diffusion, thermal conductivity, internal friction (transfer theory). In 1867 she showed the statistical nature of the second start of thermodynamics ("Maxwell Demon").
In 1831, in the year of the birth of Maxwell, M. Faraday conducted classical experiments, which led him to the opening of electromagnetic induction. Maxwell began to study electricity and magnetism about 20 years later, when there were two views on the nature of electrical and magnetic effects. Such scientists, as A.M. Amper and F.Naiman, adhered to the concept of long-range, considering electromagnetic forces as analogue of gravitational attraction between the two masses. Faraday was a commitment to the idea of \u200b\u200bpower lines that connect positive and negative electrical charges or the northern and southern poles of the magnet. The power lines fill in all the surrounding space (field, by Faraday terminology) and determine electrical and magnetic interactions. Following Faraday, Maxwell developed a hydrodynamic model of power lines and expressed the ratios of electrodynamics on the mathematical language, corresponding to the mechanical models of Faraday. The main results of this study are reflected in the work. Faraday power lines (Faraday "S Lines of Force, 1857). In 1860-1865, Maxwell created the theory of the electromagnetic field, which was formulated in the form of a system of equations (Maxwell equations), describing the basic patterns of electromagnetic phenomena: the 1st equation expressed electromagnetic induction of Faraday; 2nd - magnetoelectric induction, open Maxwell and based on displacement currents; 3rd - the law of preserving the number of electricity; 4th - the vortex nature of the magnetic field.
Continuing to develop these ideas, Maxwell came to the conclusion that any changes in electric and magnetic fields should cause changes in power lines that permeate the surrounding space, i.e. There must be pulses (or waves) that extend in the environment. The propagation rate of these waves (electromagnetic perturbation) depends on the dielectric and magnetic permeability of the medium and is equal to the ratio of an electromagnetic unit to electrostatic. According to Maxwell and other researchers, this attitude is 3hrd 10 10 cm / s, which is close to the speed of light, measured by the seven years earlier by the French physicist A. FIZO. In October 1861 Maxwell informed Faraday about his opening: Light is an electromagnetic outrage that spreads in a non-conductive medium, i.e. A variety of electromagnetic waves. This final stage of studies is set forth in Maxwell Dynamic electromagnetic field theory (Treatise On Electricity and Magnetism, 1864), and the result of his work on electrodynamics led the famous Treatise on electricity and magnetism (1873).
The last years of the life of Maxwell was engaged in preparing for the press and the edition of the handwritten heritage of Cavendish. Two large volumes came out in October 1879. Maxwell died in Cambridge on November 5, 1879.
James Clerk Maxwell (1831-79) - English physicist, creator of classical electrodynamics, one of the founders of statistical physics, the organizer and the first director (since 1871) of the Cavendish laboratory predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves, put forward the idea of \u200b\u200belectromagnetic nature of light, established the first statistical law - the law of the distribution of molecules in speeds called him name.
Developing the ideas of Michael Faraday, created the theory of the electromagnetic field (the Maxwell equation); Introduced the concept of a shift current, predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves, put forward the idea of \u200b\u200belectromagnetic nature of light. Installed a statistical distribution called by his name. Investigated viscosity, diffusion and thermal conductivity of gases. Maxwell showed that Saturn rings consist of separate bodies. Proceedings for colorful vision and colorimetry (Maxwell disc), optics (Maxwell effect), elastic theory (Maxwell theorem, Maxwell chart - creams), thermodynamics, physics history, etc.
Family. Years of exercise
James Maxwell was born on June 13, 1831, in Edinburgh. He was the only son of the Scottish nobleman and lawyer John Clerk, who, having received the estate of the wife of his relative, nee Maxwell's wife, added this name to his last name. After the birth of the son, the family moved to South Scotland, in his own estate Glenlar ("shelter in the valley"), where and the childhood of the boy passed.
In 1841, his father sent James to school, which was called the Edinburgh Academy. Here at 15, Maxwell wrote his first scientific article "On the drawing of oval". In 1847, he entered the Edinburgh University, where he studied for three years, and in 1850 he went to Cambridge University, which graduated from 1854. By this time, James Maxwell was a first-class mathematician with a superbly developed physics intuition.
Creation of the Cavendish laboratory. Teaching job
At the end of the University, James Maxwell was left in Cambridge for pedagogical work. In 1856, he received a place of Professor Marisal College in Aberdeen University (Scotland). In 1860 elected a member of the London Royal Society. In the same year he moved to London, adopting a proposal to take the post of head of the Department of Physics in King College of the University of London, where he worked until 1865.
Returning in 1871 to the University of Cambridge, Maxwell organized and headed the first in the UK a specially equipped laboratory for physical experiments, known as the Cavendish laboratory (named English scientist Henry Cavendish). The establishment of this laboratory, which at the turn of 19-20 centuries. turned into one of the largest centers of world science, Maxwell devoted the last years of his life.
General facts from the life of Maxwell a little known. Shy, modest, he sought to live secually and did not lead diaries. In 1858, James Maxwell married, but a family life, apparently, was unfortunately, aggravated his absence, removed from previous friends. There is an assumption that many important materials about the life of Maxwell died during the 1929 fire in his Glenlara house, 50 years after his death. He died of cancer at the age of 48.
Scientific activity
The unusually wide sphere of scientific interests of Maxwell covered the theory of electromagnetic phenomena, the kinetic theory of gases, optics, the theory of elasticity and much more. One of the first of his work was research on physiology and color view physics and colorimetry, started in 1852. In 1861, James Maxwell first received a color image, spreading red, green and blue diapositive on the screen. This was proved by the justice of three-component theory of view and outlined ways to create color photography. In the work of 1857-59, Maxwell theoretically investigated the stability of the Saturn rings and showed that the Saturn rings can be stable only if particles (tel) are composed of non-interference.
In 1855, D. Maxwell began the cycle of its main work on electrodynamics. Articles "On Faraday Power Lines" (1855-56), "On Physical Power Lines" (1861-62), "Dynamic Electromagnetic Field Theory" (1869). Studies have been completed by the release of a two-volume monograph "Treatise on electricity and magnetism" (1873).
Creating an electromagnetic field theory
When James Maxwell in 1855 began a study of electrical and magnetic phenomena, many of them were already well studied: in particular, the laws of interaction of fixed electrical charges (the law of the coulon) and currents (AMPER law) were established; It has been proven that magnetic interactions are the interactions of moving electrical charges. Most of the scientists of that time believed that the interaction was transmitted instantly, directly through the void (the theory of long-range effect).
A decisive turn to the theory of closestream was made by Michael Faraday in the 30s. 19th century According to the ideas of Faraday, the electrical charge creates an electric field in the surrounding space. The field of one charge acts on the other, and vice versa. The interaction of currents is carried out by means of a magnetic field. The distribution of electrical and magnetic fields in the Faraday space described with the help of power lines, which, according to its representation, resemble the usual elastic lines in the hypothetical medium - world air.
Maxwell completely perceived the ideas of Faraday about the existence of an electromagnetic field, that is, about the reality of the processes in space near charges and currents. He believed that the body could not act where it was not.
The first thing that did DK Maxwell - gave the ideas of Faraday a strict mathematical form, so necessary in physics. It turned out that with the introduction of the concept of the field, the laws of the coule and amper began to be expressed most fully, deeply and elegantly. In the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction, Maxwell saw a new field property: an alternating magnetic field generates an electric field with closed power lines in an empty space (the so-called vortex electrical field).
The next, and the last, step in the opening of the main properties of the electromagnetic field was made by Maxwell without any support for the experiment. It was expressed by a brilliant guess that the variable electric field generates a magnetic field, as well as the usual electric current (hypothesis about the shift current). By 1869, all major patterns of the behavior of the electromagnetic field were established and formulated as a system of four equations that were called Maxwell equations.
Maxwell equations are the main equations of classical macroscopic electrodynamics, describing electromagnetic phenomena in arbitrary environments and in vacuo. Maxwell equations were obtained by J. K. Maxwell in the 60s. 19th century As a result of summarizing the laws of electrical and magnetic phenomena found from the experience.
From the Maxwell equations, the fundamental conclusion was followed: the limb of the speed of propagation of electromagnetic interactions. This is the main thing that distinguishes the theory of relatives from the theory of long-range theory. The speed turned out to be equal to the speed of light in vacuum: 300000 km / s. From here Maxwell made the conclusion that the light is the form of electromagnetic waves.
Works on the molecular-kinetic gases theory
The role of James Maxwell is extremely great in the development and formation of molecular-kinetic theory (modern name - statistical mechanics). Maxwell was the first to approve the statistical nature of the laws of nature. In 1866, the first statistical law was opened - the law of the distribution of molecules in speeds (Maxwell distribution). In addition, it calculated the viscosity of the gases depending on the speeds and the length of the free mileage of molecules, brought a number of thermodynamics ratios.
Maxwell distribution is the distribution of the system molecules in a state of thermodynamic equilibrium (provided that the translational movement of molecules is described by the laws of classical mechanics). Installed J. K. Maxwell in 1859.
Maxwell was a brilliant popularizer of science. He wrote a number of articles for the British Encyclopedia and Popular Books: "Theory of Heat" (1870), "Matter and Movement" (1873), "Electricity in elemental presentation" (1881), which were translated into Russian; I read lectures and reports on physical topics for a wide audience. Maxwell also showed great interest in the history of science. In 1879, he published the works of Cavendish on electricity, providing them with extensive comments.
Assessment of the work of Maxwell
The work of the scientist was not appreciated by its contemporaries. The ideas about the existence of the electromagnetic field seemed arbitrary and non-roadmatic. Only after Heinrich Hertz in 1886-89 experimentally proved the existence of electromagnetic waves predicted by Maxwell, his theory was universal recognition. It happened ten years after the death of Maxwell.
After experimental confirmation of the reality of the electromagnetic field, a fundamental scientific discovery was made: there are various types of matter, and each of them has its own laws that are not conducive to the laws of Newton's mechanics. However, Maxwell himself is unlikely to distinguish it clearly and first time tried to build mechanical models of electromagnetic phenomena.
On the role of Maxwell in the development of science, American physicist Richard Feynman was perfectly on the role of Maxwell: "In the history of mankind (if you look at her, let's say, in ten thousand years), the most significant event of the 19th century will undoubtedly be the discovery of Maxwell of the laws of electrodynamics. Against this important scientific discovery, civil war in America will look like a provincial incident in the same decade. "
James Maxwell died November 5, 1879, Cambridge. He was buried not in the tomb of the great people of England - Westminster Abbey, - and in a modest grave next to his beloved church in the Scottish village, not far from the generic estate.
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James Maxwell is a physicist, which was the first to formulate the foundations of classical electrodynamics. They are used so far. The famous Maxwell equation is known, it was he who introduced such concepts such as a shift current, an electromagnetic field, predicted electromagnetic waves, nature and pressure of light, made many other important discoveries.
Childhood physics
The physicist Maxwell was born in the XIX century, in 1831. He was born in Scottish Edinburgh. The hero of our article took place from the kind of clerks, his father owned the family estate in South Scotland. In 1826, he found a spouse named Francis Kay, they played a wedding, and after 5 years they had James.
In infancy, Maxwell with his parents moved to the estate of Middleby, here he spent his childhood, which was very overshadowed by the death of mother from cancer. Back in the first years of his life, he was actively interested in the world around the world, he was fond of poetry, he was surrounded by the so-called "scientific toys". For example, the predecessor of the cinema "magic disk".
At the age of 10, he began to study with a home teacher, but it turned out to be ineffective, then in 1841 he moved to Edinburgh to his aunt. Here he began to attend the Edinburgh Academy, which focused on classical education.
Study at the Edinburgh University
In 1847, the future physicist James Maxwell begins to study in here he studied the works in physics, magnetism and philosophy, put numerous laboratory experiments. Most of all he was interested in the mechanical properties of materials. He explored them with the help of polarized light. This opportunity for physics Maxwell appeared after his colleague William Nicole presented him with two personally collected polarization appliances.
At that time, he made a large number of models from gelatin, exposed their deformations, followed color paintings in polarized light. Comparing his experiments with theoretical surveys, Maxwell brought many new patterns and checked old. At that time, the results of this work were extremely important for construction mechanics.
Maxwell in Cambridge
In 1850, Maxwell wishes to continue their education, although the father is not delighted with this venture. The scientist goes to Cambridge. There he enters the inexpensive College Peterhouse. The training program that had been there was not satisfied by James, besides, studies in Peterhouse did not give any prospects.
Only at the end of the first semester he managed to convince her father and translate into a more prestigious Trinity College. Two years later, he becomes a scholarshot, gets a separate room.
At the same time, Maxwell is practically not engaged in scientific activities, read more and attends lectures of prominent scientists of his time, writes poems, participates in the intellectual life of the university. The hero of our article communicates a lot with new people, due to this compensates for natural shyness.
Interesting was the routine of Maxwell's Day. From 7 am to 5 pm, he worked, then fell asleep. Again got up at 21.30, read, and from two to half the night I was engaged in a jog right in the corridors of the hostel. After that, I went down to sleep until the morning.
Work on electricity
During his stay in Cambridge, Maxwell's physicist is seriously interested in electricity problems. It explores magnetic and electrical effects.
By that time, Michael Faraday put forward the theory of electromagnetic induction, power lines capable of connecting negative and positive electrical charges. However, such a concept of action did not like Maxwell at a distance, the intuition suggested him that somewhere there are contradictions. Therefore, he decided to build a mathematical theory, which would unite the results obtained by supporters of long-range, and the performance of Faraday. He used a method of an analogy and applied the results that was previously achieved by William Thomson when analyzing heat transfer processes in a solid. So for the first time he gave an argued mathematical substantiation of how electrical action was going on in a specific environment.
Colored pictures
In 1856, Maxwell goes to Aberdeen, where he would soon marry. In June 1860, at the congress of the British Association, which is held in Oxford, the hero of our article makes an important report on its research in the field of color theory, reinforcing them with specific experiments using a color drawer. In the same year, he is awarded a medal for working on the connection of optics and colors.
In 1861, it provides in the Royal Institute an irrefutable evidence of loyalty to its theory is a color photo on which he worked back since 1855. No one else did this in the world. He removed the negatives through several filters - blue, green and red. Lighting the negatives through the same filters, it can get a color image.
Maxwell Equation
A strong influence in the biography of James Clerk Maxwell also had Thomson. As a result, he comes to the conclusion that magnetism has vortex nature, and the electric current is progressive. It creates a mechanical model to clearly demonstrate.
As a result, the shift current led to the famous continuity equation, which is still used for an electric charge. According to contemporaries, this discovery has become the most significant contribution of Maxwell to modern physics.
last years of life
Maxwell held the last years of his life in Cambridge on various administrative positions, became president of the philosophical society. Together with students investigated the spread of waves in crystals.
Employees who worked with him repeatedly noted that he was as simple as possible in communication, fully surrendered to research, had a unique ability to penetrate the essence of the problem itself, was very insightful, while adequately reacted to criticism, never sought to become famous, but in The same time was capable of very refined sarcasm.
The first symptoms of a serious illness were manifested in 1877, when Maxwell was only 46 years old. He increasingly began to choke, it was difficult for him to eat and swallowed food, severe pain arose.
Already in two years later he was very difficult to read lectures, speak in public, he was very quickly told. Doctors noted that his condition was constantly worse. The diagnosis of physicians was disappointing - abdominal cancer. At the end of the year, finally weakened, he returned from Glenland to Cambridge. Dr. James Pajet, known at that time, tried to alleviate his suffering.
In November 1879, Maxwell died. The coffin with his body was transported from Cambridge to the family estate, buried next to his parents on a small village cemetery in Parton.
Olympiad in honor of Maxwell
Maxwell's memory was preserved in the names of streets, buildings, astronomical objects, awards and charitable foundations. Also annually in Moscow is the Olympiad in Physics named after Maxwell.
It passes for students from 7 to 11 classes inclusive. For schoolchildren, 7-8 classes The results of the Maxwell Olympics in physics are the replacement of the regional and All-Russian stage of schoolchildren at the physics Olympics.
To participate in the regional stage, you need to get a sufficient number of points on the preliminary selection. The regional and final stages of the Maxwell Olympics in physics are in two stages. One of them is theoretical, and the second is experimental.
Interestingly, the tasks of the Maxwell Olympics in physics at all stages coincide in terms of difficulty testing the final stages of the All-Russian schoolchildren's Olympiad.
Maxwell (Maxwell), James Clerk
English Physicist James Clerk Maxwell was born in Edinburgh in the family of a Scottish nobleman from a notable kind of clerk. He studied first in Edinburgh (1847-1850), then in Cambridge (1850-1854) universities. In 1855, Maxwell became a member of the Trinity College Council, in 1856-1860. He was a professor of Marisal College of the University of Aberdeen, since 1860 he headed the Department of Physics and Astronomy in Kings-College of the University of London. In 1865, due to a serious illness, Maxwell refused the department and settled in his childbirth, Glenlare near Edinburgh. There he continued to engage in science, wrote several writings in physics and mathematics. In 1871, the University of Cambridge took the Department of Experimental Physics. Maxwell organized a research laboratory, which opened on June 16, 1874 and was named Cavendish - in honor of Henry Cavendish.
Maxwell fulfilled his first scientific work at school, inventing a simple way of drawing oval figures. This work was reported at a meeting of the royal society and even published in his "works." A member of the Trinity College Council, he was experiments on the theory of colors, speaking as a follower of Young's theory and the theory of three main colors of the Helmholtz. In the mixing experiments, Maxwell applied a special top, the disc of which was divided into sectors painted in different colors (Maxwell disk). With a quick spin rotation, the color merged: if the disc was painted as the colors of the spectrum, it seemed white; If one half of half was painted in red, and the other was yellow, he seemed orange; Mixing blue and yellow created the impression of green. In 1860, for work on the perception of color and optics, Maxwell was awarded the Medal of Rumford.
In 1857, the University of Cambridge announced a competition for the best work on the stability of the rings of Saturn. These formations were opened by Galileem at the beginning of the XVII century. And they represented an amazing riddle of nature: the planet seemed surrounded by three solid concentric rings consisting of a substance of an unknown nature. Laplace proved that they cannot be solid. After conducting a mathematical analysis, Maxwell was convinced that they could not be liquid, and came to the conclusion that such a structure could be stable only if the meteorites were not connected from the Roy. The stability of the rings is ensured by attraction to Saturn and the mutual movement of the planet and meteorites. For this work, Maxwell received a J. Adams Prize.
One of the first works of Maxwell was his kinetic gases theory. In 1859, the scientist spoke at a meeting of the British Association with a report, which led the distribution of molecules in speeds (Maxwell distribution). Maxwell developed the submission of his predecessor in the development of the kinetic theory of Rudolph Clausius gases, which introduced the concept of "medium free run-length". Maxwell proceeded from the presentation of Gaza as an ensemble of a set of perfectly elastic balls, chaotic moving in a closed space. The balls (molecules) can be divided into groups in terms of speeds, while in the stationary state the number of molecules in each group remains constant, although they can exit groups and enter them. From such a consideration, it followed that "the particles are distributed in speeds on the same law, which observational errors are distributed in the theory of the least squares method, i.e. In accordance with Gauss Statistics. " As part of its theory, Maxwell explained the Avogadro law, diffusion, thermal conductivity, internal friction (transfer theory). In 1867, he showed the statistical nature of the second start of thermodynamics.
In 1831, in the year of Maxwell, Michael Faraday conducted classic experiments that led it to the opening of electromagnetic induction. Maxwell began to study electricity and magnetism about 20 years later, when there were two views on the nature of electrical and magnetic effects. Such scientists, as A. M. Ampere and F. Neuman, adhered to the concept of long-range, considering electromagnetic forces as analogue of gravitational attraction between the two masses. Faraday was a commitment to the idea of \u200b\u200bpower lines that connect positive and negative electrical charges or the northern and southern poles of the magnet. The power lines fill in all the surrounding space (field, by Faraday terminology) and determine electrical and magnetic interactions. Following Faraday, Maxwell developed a hydrodynamic model of power lines and expressed the ratios of electrodynamics on the mathematical language, corresponding to the mechanical models of Faraday. The main results of this study are reflected in the work of "Faraday Power Lines" (1857). In 1860-1865 Maxwell created the theory of the electromagnetic field, which was formulated as a system of equations (Maxwell equations), describing the basic patterns of electromagnetic phenomena: the 1st equation expressed electromagnetic induction of Faraday; 2nd - magnetoelectric induction, open Maxwell and based on displacement currents; 3rd - the law of preserving the number of electricity; 4th - the vortex nature of the magnetic field.
Continuing to develop these ideas, Maxwell came to the conclusion that any changes in electric and magnetic fields should cause changes in power lines that permeate the surrounding space, i.e. There must be pulses (or waves) that extend in the environment. The propagation rate of these waves (electromagnetic perturbation) depends on the dielectric and magnetic permeability of the medium and is equal to the ratio of an electromagnetic unit to electrostatic. According to Maxwell and other researchers, this ratio is 3 · 10 10 cm / s, which is close to the speed of light, measured by the seven years earlier by the French physicist A. Fizo. In October 1861, Maxwell told Faraday about his opening: Light is an electromagnetic perturbation that spreads in a non-conductive medium, i.e. A variety of electromagnetic waves. This final stage of studies is set forth in the work of Maxwell "Dynamic theory of the electromagnetic field" (1864), and the total of its work on electrodynamics failed the famous "Treatise on electricity and magnetism" (1873).