Engineer Talks: Maxwell’s Equations

When Michael Faraday discovered that electricity and magnetism were somehow intricately linked, he lacked the necessary mathematical foundation to describe it.

So James Clerk Maxwell looked for ways to mathematically unite these individual domains to describe how electrical and magnetic fields behaved and interacted. Maxwell compiled four fundamental equations that hold true for all electrical and magnetic interactions, which became known as “Maxwell’s Equations.”

The electric flux through a closed surface is proportional to the total electric charge inside that surface.

It describes how electric charges produce electric fields.

• Lightning

• Static electricity around a balloon

• Capacitors

Magnetic monopoles do not exist; magnetic charges always come in north-south pairs. The magnetic flux through any closed surface is always zero.

Magnetic field lines are continuous loops, and they never begin or end.

• Earth’s magnetic field

• A bar magnet

• MRI

A changing magnetic field over time creates an electric field. It explains how electric currents can be induced by changing magnetic fields.

This principle is the basis for electromagnetic induction in transformers and electric generators.

• Electromagnetic induction in generators

• Electrical transformers

Magnetic fields are generated by electric currents and changing electric fields. Maxwell altered it to include the effect of changing electric fields.

This law includes the contribution of a changing electric field to the magnetic field, leading to the prediction of electromagnetic waves.

• Wireless charging

• Electromagnets

Maxwell’s Equations are fundamental to understanding how electromagnetic fields behave, making them crucial for designing and optimizing baluns, which are devices that convert balanced signals to unbalanced ones or vice versa. These equations describe the relationships between electric fields, magnetic fields, charges, and currents, providing the theoretical framework for balun functionality.

Marki Microwave baluns set the phase and amplitude balance standard, offering exceptional common mode rejection over broad bandwidths.

Designed for ADC/DAC interfaces, phased arrays, and differential cable testing, they feature a unique, proprietary architecture and advanced assembly techniques.

Visit our Marki Microwave page for more information and product catalogs: