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So here are the two of Maxwell's laws that I am interested in:enter image description here

So we have the simple circuit (from google):
enter image description here

So, before the system goes into steady-state we know that charge slowly accumulates on the plates of the conductor. So the charge on the plates gets bigger and bigger while the charges that carry the current get smaller and smaller, so the current gets weaker.
Applying Ampere's law on the wire we find the induced magnetic field due to the current $I(t)$ that penetrates the surface $\Sigma$ (see the integral of $\mathbf{J}\mathrm{d}\mathbf{S}$) and not due to an electric field.
Now, this induced magnetic field is changing with respect to time (because current is changing). But from the Maxwell-Faraday equation we conclude that this changing magnetic field will produce an electric field which again changes with respect to time. And then we have another induced magnetic field due to that changing electric field. And the cycle goes on.
So, am I right? And if I am, when does this stop? And how does it changes the way I calculate each induced field? Does it have to do with electromagnetic waves?

ACuriousMind
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TheQuantumMan
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1 Answers1

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You are roughly correct. However, you must be careful because the surface you would choose for finding the magnetic field from $\mathbf{J} \cdot \mathrm{d}\mathbf{S}$ is NOT the same surface you would use to find the electric field.

The concept you want to solve this problem is self-inductance. Defining the magnetic flux $\Phi=\int\mathbf{B} \cdot \mathrm{d}\mathbf{S}$ and the electromotive force $\varepsilon = \oint\mathbf{E} \cdot \mathrm{d}\mathbf{S}$, we can rewrite the Maxwell-Faraday equation as

$$\varepsilon = -\frac{\mathrm{d}\Phi}{\mathrm{d}t}$$

and note that the current produced is

$$I=\frac{V+\varepsilon-\frac{Q}{C}}{R}$$

i.e., the sum of voltages around the whole circuit.

In general the total magnetic flux $\Phi$ through a circuit will depend in some complicated way on the geometry of the circuit, and it is hard to solve except in a few simple cases like solenoids. However, we can see from the second Maxwell equation that it will always be proportional to the current. (The second term is zero since there is no electric field perpendicular to the circuit in this problem.) Let's call the complicated geometric dependence the self-inductance $L$, and rewrite the second Maxwell equation as

$$ \Phi = LI$$

You can now write that

$$ RI = V-L\frac{\mathrm{d}I}{\mathrm{d}t}-\frac{Q}{C}$$

Observing that $I=\frac{\mathrm{d}Q}{\mathrm{d}t}$ lets you rewrite the expression in terms of a single differential equation with one variable $Q$. Once you have the solutions for $Q(t)$, you can find the behavior of, say, $\varepsilon$ through the equations we already defined and appropriate initial conditions. If you have not seen equations of this type before, it may help to search for "damped harmonic oscillator."

user27118
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  • I have lost you somewhere.I think your loop is the circuit,while i tried to solve this by trying to find the magnetic and electric field by applying the equations at a point on the wire.Say i want to find the magnetic and electric field at a distance r from a point on the wire.I would appreciate if you would explain it from that perspective or just explain your calculations with a bit more words so i can understand each step more easily – TheQuantumMan Apr 03 '15 at 20:46
  • As it is i do not understand how you answer my question.How does this show me for how long you will have this seemingly endless induction? – TheQuantumMan Apr 03 '15 at 20:59
  • In order to find the electric and magnetic field at some point $\mathbf{r}$, you have to know the current and charge in the circuit. That's what I solve here. Once you know that, you can find the magnetic field from Ampere's law and then differentiate it with respect to time and find the electric field. However, actually completing this calculation is generally very hard even if the shape of the circuit is pretty simple. It would help if you could say where in this derivation of the current you lose track of what's going on. – user27118 Apr 05 '15 at 14:31
  • If your interest is in electromagnetic waves, yes, it is true that a changing electrical field will produce a changing magnetic field and vice versa, creating a wave. For that, you will want to take a look at Maxwell's equations in free space. Trying to figure out the wave generated by a real circuit is the subject of graduate courses in itself. – user27118 Apr 05 '15 at 14:35
  • It is not that i have lost track of the calculations.Look,to be more specific,i had a homework question that asked me to calculate the magnetic field at a distance r from a point on the wire.So i did it and saw that the magnetic field changes with respect to time.Therefore i conclude that i will also have an induced electric field.I calculated that and it also changes with time.So i conclude that if i once again use Ampere's law,i will have a changing electric field passing through the surface that the amperian loop encloses.So that will induce yet another magnetic field.So,i say,what now? – TheQuantumMan Apr 05 '15 at 16:22
  • And if you can help me out,i have another question to make.When i find the induced magnetic field that changes with time,i want to calculate the induced electric field in the loop that is the circuit.Say i find it.That means that we create an emf that gives an extra current(induced) to the circuit.So now,i must put all these stuff into my calculations.That is were i get confused.Everyone stops in the calculation of the induced magnetic field,but no one goes on to discuss or calculate the things that happen next – TheQuantumMan Apr 05 '15 at 16:25
  • I think the best way to get a clear answer is to separately post the homework question and explain the cause of your confusion. The issue you describe is of general interest as a physics concept and your question would be fine under homework and exercises. For here, let me say that you shouldn't think of the magnetic field as causing an electric field which causes a magnetic field, etc. You will make yourself crazy that way. Instead, think of the two fields as having to simultaneously satisfy Maxwell's equations. One other note: you have to pay careful attention to the field direction/shape. – user27118 Apr 06 '15 at 17:48