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15.4: Maxwell's Second Equation

  • Page ID
    6214
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    Unlike the electrostatic field, magnetic fields have no sources or sinks, and the magnetic lines of force are closed curves. Consequently the surface integral of the magnetic field over a closed surface is zero, and therefore

    \[ \text{div} \, \textbf{B} = 0 \tag{15.4.1} \label{15.4.1}\]

    or, in the nabla notation

    \[ \boldsymbol{\nabla} \cdot \textbf{B} = 0 \tag{15.4.2} \label{15.4.2}\]

    This is the second of Maxwell's equations.


    This page titled 15.4: Maxwell's Second Equation is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jeremy Tatum via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.