James Clerk Maxwell - Magnetic Mathematician
James Clerk Maxwell was a Scottish mathematician who lived in the 1800s. Maxwell's research led to advances in electromagnetism and in many other areas of science. He proposed that light is an electromagnetic wave -- a wave that consists of electric and magnetic fields that vibrate at right angles to each other. His work on electromagnetic fields provides the foundation for Einstein's theory of relativity.
After college, Maxwell decided to study the work of Michael Faraday. Many physicists of the time thought that Faraday's work was not scientific enough. Faraday described his experiments but did not try to apply any scientific or mathematical theory to the results. Maxwell felt that this was a strength. He decided not to read any of the mathematical descriptions of electricity and magnetism until he had read all of Faraday's work. The first paper Maxwell wrote about electricity called “On Faraday's Lines of Force,” brought Faraday's experimental results together with a mathematical analysis of the magnetic field surrounding a current. This paper described a few mathematical equations that could be used to describe the interactions between electric and magnetic fields. Maxwell continue to work with Faraday's results and to publish papers that gave scientific explanations of some of Faraday's most exciting observations.
Study the life of James Clerk Maxwell. Make a poster with a timeline that shows major events in his life. Include three or four historic events that happened during his lifetime.
After college, Maxwell decided to study the work of Michael Faraday. Many physicists of the time thought that Faraday's work was not scientific enough. Faraday described his experiments but did not try to apply any scientific or mathematical theory to the results. Maxwell felt that this was a strength. He decided not to read any of the mathematical descriptions of electricity and magnetism until he had read all of Faraday's work. The first paper Maxwell wrote about electricity called “On Faraday's Lines of Force,” brought Faraday's experimental results together with a mathematical analysis of the magnetic field surrounding a current. This paper described a few mathematical equations that could be used to describe the interactions between electric and magnetic fields. Maxwell continue to work with Faraday's results and to publish papers that gave scientific explanations of some of Faraday's most exciting observations.
Study the life of James Clerk Maxwell. Make a poster with a timeline that shows major events in his life. Include three or four historic events that happened during his lifetime.