Back to Learning Hub
Understanding Electromagnetic Quantities

Understanding Electromagnetic Quantities

Electromagnetic quantities describe various aspects of electric and magnetic fields and their interactions with matter. These are fundamental to understanding electricity, magnetism, and light.

Introduction & History

The study of electromagnetism began with observations of natural phenomena like lightning and lodestones. James Clerk Maxwell unified electricity and magnetism in the 19th century with his famous equations, leading to the development of modern electromagnetic theory.

Key Units

Tesla (T)

The SI unit of magnetic flux density, equal to one weber per square meter.

Gauss (G)

A unit of magnetic flux density in the CGS system, equal to 10⁻⁴ tesla.

Weber (Wb)

The SI unit of magnetic flux, equal to one volt-second.

Maxwell (Mx)

A unit of magnetic flux in the CGS system, equal to 10⁻⁸ weber.

Practical Applications

Electric motors and generators

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Particle accelerators

Magnetic storage media

Electric power transmission

Key Formula

Faraday's Law of Induction

ε = -dΦ/dt

The induced electromotive force (ε) in any closed circuit is equal to the negative of the time rate of change of the magnetic flux (Φ) through the circuit.