clipka wrote:
> Although the magnetic field, as we have just seen, appears to be only an 
> illusion caused by relativistic effects in the electric field.

I haven't actually gone through the math on this one but my limited 
understanding is that this isn't necessarily the case.  In the case 
where there exists a reference frame in which you can analyze the 
situation with electrostatics then you can derive the electromagnetic 
forces in another reference frame with special relativity, but that by 
no means implies that there exists any frame which allows you do do away 
with magnetic forces altogether.

I think that this paper gives this argument, although it's a bit lacking 
in details for my taste:

http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0143-0807/29/5/002

I'm instead inclined to have the take on it that it nicely illustrates 
why electricity and magnetism are not separate forces, but rather two 
difference aspects of the same underlying field.

Post a reply to this message