Skip to main content
electromagnetism

electromagnetism

6 6.4
The science of how electricity and magnets affect each other
  • noun
  • /ˌɛlɛkˌtroʊˈmæɡnɪˌtɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : electromagnetismo
  • Chabay and Sherwood have clearly chosen a "less is more" approach to teaching electromagnetism.
  • electromagnetism course
  • electromagnetism interaction
  • theories about electromagnetism

And that's, my friends, is today's lesson on electromagnetism.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The activity guides divide the two-semester course into four modules: mechanics I, mechanics II, thermal physics, and electromagnetism.

    Academic text (1996)
  • In the theory of classical electromagnetism, free space has the following properties:

    Blog text (29)
  • When electrical current flows through a conductor, it produces electromagnetism.

    Academic text (2008)
  • According to Maxwell's laws of electromagnetism, an electric charge moving in a magnetic field gives rise to electromagnetic radiation.

    Academic text (1996)
  • In Electric and Magnetic Interactions, Chabay and Sherwood have redefined the content and format of the introductory electromagnetism course.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The study of electromagnetism explains how electric fields can create magnetic fields and vice versa.

  • Many modern devices, such as electric motors and generators, rely on the principles of electromagnetism.

  • Electromagnetism is essential for understanding how electricity and magnetism interact in various technologies.

Synonyms

electromagnetics
vselectromagnetism
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A branch of physics that studies electric and magnetic fields and how they interact

also covers the physical force aspect between electricity and magnetism
electromagnetic interaction
vselectromagnetism
  • Specialized
6.9

A force between charged particles carried by particles of light

also refers to the broader physics branch that studies those fields

Surface Forms

Morphology

electromagnetism = electromagnet (semi-transparent) = electro + magnet + ism

The word is transparently built from 'electromagnet' plus '-ism', but the resulting sense is a specialized field of study rather than a simple literal combination.

Etymology

The word electromagnetism starts with electro- (from electron, a Greek word for 'amber', because rubbing amber can make a small electric charge) and adds magnet (a rock that 'pulls' iron), so it literally links electricity and magnets. So, electromagnetism is the force that explains how electricity and magnets work together.