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Text Maxwell’s Equations. Diagrams, equations etc can be found in the German version at; http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Ekkehard_Friebe/Catt-85a.htm The Hidden Message in Maxwell’s Equations - Ivor Catt, Electronics and Wireless World, November 1985 Did Maxwell lodge with his
bank the answer to his mathematical bluff, Maxwell’s Equations, with
instructions to open and publish a century later? And did the bank lose the
envelope? http://www.ivorcatt.com/em_test04.htm Historically, the theory of electrodynamics grew out of the theory of
static fields, electric and magnetic. These static fields resulted from steady
electric currents and static electric charge. Maxwell wrestled with the
paradox of the capacitor1,2, and this led him to reassert
Faraday’s idea of “the propagation of transverse [electro]magnetic [waves]3.”
So the concepts of electric charge and electric current preceded the concept
of a transverse electromagnetic wave4, and it is generally agreed
(but not by me) that the TEM Wave follows from the prior postulation of
electric charge and current1,2. A strong case can be made for the view that the TEM Wave is a more
fundamental Primitive, or starting point, for electromagnetic theory than
electric charge and electric current. ·
When light and heat reach us from the sun,
it is by the mechanism of a TEM Wave, not electric charge and electric
current. ·
Kip5 says that the energy
dissipated in a resistor entered it sideways,
and was transported into the resistor by the TEM Wave ·
In Wireless World, May 1955, page 18, in a
reply to G. Berzins, I showed that the TEM Wave, not the electric current,
must be the mechanism by which energy is transferred. ·
We all adhere to the underlying primitive
‘conservation of energy’. Now energy is transported by the TEM Wave, not by
electric charge and electric current. ·
We all adhere to the underlying
relativistic primitive, ‘no instantaneous action at a distance’. While
electric charge could be argued
to be located at only one point in space-time, this is not true of an
electric current, some of which is located at the same time at points which
in the language of Minkowski are ‘elsewhere’ to itself. Catt’s Equations of motion for a tapering wooden
plank. [See diagram in German version at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Ekkehard_Friebe/Catt-85a.htm ] Consider a plank of wood tapering to a point at the front, travelling at velocity v. The aspect ratio of the wood’s cross section is z. Height and width at any point are denoted by h and w. Within the tapering section, the ratio of height to width remains z.The velocity of the plank is the factor which relates the change of height with forward distance to the change of height at a point with time, so from first principles, we can writedh/dx = - (1/v) dh/dt (1) 7,8
[For explanation of the minus sign, see 9]Since
we have stated that at any point, h/w=z, we can substitute for h in equation
1: dh/dx = - (z/v) dw/dt (2) Again
from first principles, we can write dw/dx = - (1/v) dw/dt (3) In the same way as we substituted for h in equation (1) to get (2), now substitute for w, to get dw/dx = - (1/vz) dh/dt (4) Equations
(2) and (4) we define as Catt’s Equations
of Motion for a wooden plank. Note that they hold true for any
type of taper, and even a straight portion of the plank, when both sides of
the equation are equal to zero. The only imposed limitation is that h remain
proportional to w. Catt’s Equations of Motion for a thick warm plankWe
postulate that a thick plank of wood travels forward with velocity v. At
every point within the plank, we postulate that the temperature T is
proportional to the density of the wood r, so that T/r = z . (To picture this, think of spontaneous
combustion.) Catt’s
equations 2 and 4 now become dT/dx = - (z/v) dr/dt
(5) dr/dx =
- (1/vz) dT/dt (6) These
equations remain valid for two thick short planks moving forward side by
side. Maxwell’s Equations compared with two thick short planksLet
us first review two of the many extant versions of maxwell’s Equations for a
vacuum. dE/dx = - dB/dt (7) dh/dx = - dD/dt (8) The
version above has been obscured by the introduction of alternative symbols B
and D to denote magnetic and electric fields. Our purpose is more easily
served if we use another of the many versions that litter the text books2: dE/dx = - m0 dH/dt (9) dH/dx = - e0
dE/dt (10) Our
problem is that whereas the equations for planks have constants v for
velocity and z for ratio, Maxwell’s Equations have the obscure symbols m0 and e0. However, this problem
becomes trivial because it is known from experiment that -
the velocity of light or a TEM Wave is c =
1/ \/(m0e0), -
the ratio between E and H at any point,
described by the symbol Z0, has been found by experiment to be
equal to the constant \/(m0/e0). By
algebra, we find that m0 = Z0/c and e0 = 1/c10. We
can now see that equations (9) and (10) are in fact (5) and (6), Catt’s Equations for Two Thick Short Planks,
and contain virtually no information about the nature of electromagnetism. The Hidden Message in Maxwell’s EquationsIn
general, Maxwell’s Equations tell us only the obvious truisms about any body
or material moving through space. It is the obscurantism of the fancy maths
in which they are dressed that has for the last century caused scholars to
think that they contain significant information about the nature of
electromagnetism (but see 7 and 9). Most versions are
far more messy and obscurantified than the two comparatively clean versions
(7) through (10) listed above. Other versions tend to contain a mixture of
integrals, divs, curls, and much more, leading to a head-spinning brew, see
for instance 1, 13. (For the Inscrutable Ultimate, see
panel for Chen-To Tai. [Missing from this web page.]) Two
questions arise; -
Do Maxwell’s Equations contain any
information at all about the nature of electromganetism? -
Why do academics and practitioners
generally believe that Maxwell’s Equations are useful? The
answer to each of these turns out to be much the same at the answer to the
other. Returning
to equation (1), this is only valid if the constant in the equation equals
the velocity of propagation v. When we then mix together h and w to produce
the hybrid equations (2) and (4), they only remain true if h and w are always
in fixed proportion z. So we find that Maxwell’s Equations (9) and (10) are
only true if at every point in space E is proportional to H, and also if the
velocity of electromagnetism has a fixed value c. So the only information
about electromagnetism contained in the apparently sophisticated equations
(9) and (10) is about the two constants in electromagnetism: the fixed
velocity c, and that E, H at every point are in fixed proportion Z0.
The remaining content of Maxwell’s Equations is hogwash. We
have to conclude, with respect, that what Maxwell and his sycophants do not
say about a tapering, disappearing plank of wood isn’t worth saying. Now
move on to the second question, “Why do academics and practitioners generally
believe that Maxwell’s Equations are useful?” The answer to this question,
deriving from the previous discussion, is extraordinary. We have already seen
that Z0 and c are the only items of information buried in
Maxwell’s Equations. We resolve the paradox by pointing out that Z0 [377] is not
available as a concept to the whole of the fraternity called ‘Modern
Physics’. The only way they can use such a necessary constant in their work is by taking on board with it all the meaningless rubbish in Maxwell’s Equations which shrouds this valuable nugget. In September 1984, in a paper delivered to a
learned conference11 and in that month’s issue of Wireless World, I wrote: “It is
noteworthy that Einstein himself and also the whole post-Einstein community
who call themselves ‘Modern Physics’ never mention the impedance of free
space \/(m0/e0), although it
is one of the key primitives on which digital electronic engineering is
based. The reader is encouraged to look for reference to it in the literature
of ‘Modern Physics’.” Since then, no one has pointed out any case where it is
mentioned in the literature. It follows that The only purpose served by
Maxwell’s Equations is as a package to deliver the constant Z0 [377 ohms] to the
theorist and to the practitioner. [A bit like burning down your house to get
roast pig.] If they lacked another source for it, c [velocity of light,
300,000km/s] could also be accessed via Maxwell’s Equations,
but I think that to some extent c is available via other routes, although
university lecturers remain muddled and vague about the velocity of a TEM
Wave. Curiously, they are much more sure that the velocity of light equals
the constant c. Did Maxwell lodge with his bank manager the answer
to his mathematical bluff, Maxwell’s Equations, with instructions to open and
publish a century later? Should we say to Maxwell now, as he sits laughing,
or perhaps smarting, on Cloud Nine, “Now pull the other leg”? No. I am sure
that Maxwell was sincere, and did not knowingly shroud the very heart and
soul of science, Electromagnetism, in confusion and nonsense for over a
century. "From a long view of the history of
mankind – seen from, say, ten thousand years from now – there can be little
doubt that the most significant event of the 19th century will be judged as
Maxwell’s discovery of the laws of electrodynamics. The American Civil War
will pale into provincial insignificance in comparison with this important
scientific event of the same decade." – R.P. Feynman, R.B. Leighton, and
M. Sands, Feynman Lectures on Physics, vol.
2, Addison-Wesley, London, 1964, c. 1, p. 11. Oops! – Ivor
apr03 It gets worse; “The special theory of relativity owes its origin to Maxwell’s
equations of the electromagnetic field.” Einstein quoted in Schilpp, P A,
“Albert Einstein, Philosopher – Scientist,” Library of Living Philosophers,
1949, p62. - Ivor may03 [Perhaps we should look for some
different people to drool over. Ivor Catt 17may03] Appendix [to
nov85 paper] It is worth repeating here from ref. 7 that the following
two source equations, from which Maxwell’s Equations are derived, have never
been mentioned in the literature: dE/dx = - Z0e0 dE/dt [So the E field causes the
E field! I Catt apr02] dH/dx = - m0/Z0 dH/dt [So the H field causes the H field! So much for the minus sign
implying causality! I Catt apr02] http://www.ivorcatt.com/em_test04.htm …… …… The cross-linkage of electric and magnetic fields E and H in Maxwell’s Equations only obscures the issue. There is no interaction between E and H. (Similarly, the width of a brick does not interact with its length.) They are co-existent, co-substantial, co-eternal (refs. 12, 14). To be continued. (Nearly all typed in.) Ivor Catt 24apr02 @@@@@@@@@@ Panel: Historical background reading. What did Maxwell do? Today, what do scientists believe that he did? Did Maxwell postulate 'The Extra Current', now called Displacement Current, to resolve an anomaly which arose from the capacitor in a closed circuit? Or did he later falsely claim it as his reason? Or is it merely the false reason given in the history books? It is possible to argue that for my purpose these distinctions are unimportant, because if unknown, they do not influence the contemporary scene. (All the same, I believe that the true history of science is important.) Generally, I attempt to bypass these niceties, in order to create an uncluttered discussion of the technical flaws in today's science. By contrast, historians, lacking proficiency in electromagnetical theory, assume that today's situation is sound, and the only problem is that there are errors in our knowledge as to how we reached it. The difference - that I am concerned with flaws in the contemporary body scientific and less concerned with historical detail - creates an uneasy relationship between the historians and me. As a result, I both do and do not want to point the reader to historical analysis of Maxwell exemplified by the following: Chalmers, A. F., "Maxwell and displacement current", Physics Education, vol. 10 1975, p.45 Gee, B., "Models as a pedagogical tool: can we learn from Maxwell?", Physics Education, vol. 13, 1978, p.287. Tai, Chen-To, "On the Presentation of Maxwell's Theory", Proc. IEEE, vol.60, no.8, Aug.1972, p.936. @@@@@@@@@@ References: 1.
Carter, G. W., The Electromagnetic
Field in its Engineering Aspects. Longman, 1954, p. 313 |
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The
deeper hidden message in Maxwell’s Equations |
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A Mathematical Rake’s Progress. www.ivorcatt.com/2809.htm http://www.ivorcatt.com/em_test04.htm The Conquest of Science. http://www.electromagnetism.demon.co.uk/wbdanbk8.htm History of Maxwell’s Equations Scandals in Electromagnetic Theory
http://www.ivorcatt.com/28scan.htm The Conquest of Truth
Includes, “Maxwell, Einstein and the Aether”http://www.electromagnetism.demon.co.uk/Conquest%20of%20Truth.htm |