Maxwell stress tensor
E15195
The Maxwell stress tensor is a mathematical construct in classical electromagnetism that represents how electric and magnetic fields transmit mechanical stresses, such as pressure and tension, through space and matter.
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
concept in classical electromagnetism
ⓘ
mathematical construct ⓘ physical quantity ⓘ tensor field ⓘ |
| appearsIn |
classical field theory textbooks
ⓘ
electromagnetism textbooks ⓘ |
| appliesTo |
electric fields
ⓘ
magnetic fields ⓘ material media ⓘ vacuum ⓘ |
| coordinateSystem | often expressed in Cartesian coordinates ⓘ |
| describes |
electromagnetic stress
ⓘ
momentum flux of electromagnetic field ⓘ pressure due to electromagnetic fields ⓘ tension due to electromagnetic fields ⓘ |
| domain | electromagnetism ⓘ |
| encodes |
flow of electromagnetic momentum
ⓘ
mechanical stresses in electromagnetic fields ⓘ |
| followsFrom |
Noether theorem applied to translational invariance of electromagnetic field
ⓘ
conservation of momentum in electromagnetic fields ⓘ |
| generalizedBy | electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor in special relativity ⓘ |
| hasAlternativeFormulation | covariant energy-momentum tensor form ⓘ |
| hasComponentType | Cartesian tensor components ⓘ |
| hasDimension |
force per unit area
ⓘ
pressure ⓘ |
| hasRank | second-order tensor ⓘ |
| hasSymmetry | symmetric tensor in vacuum ⓘ |
| introducedInField | 19th-century electromagnetism ⓘ |
| isPartOf | classical field theory formalism ⓘ |
| mathematicalForm | 3×3 matrix of field components ⓘ |
| namedAfter | James Clerk Maxwell ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
Lorentz force
ⓘ
Maxwell's equations ⓘ
surface form:
Maxwell equations
Poynting vector ⓘ electromagnetic energy-momentum tensor ⓘ |
| relates | surface integral of stress to total electromagnetic force ⓘ |
| usedBy |
electrical engineers
ⓘ
optical engineers ⓘ physicists ⓘ |
| usedFor |
analyzing forces in capacitors and inductors
ⓘ
analyzing optical trapping forces ⓘ analyzing radiation pressure on surfaces ⓘ computing net electromagnetic force on a body ⓘ computing torque due to electromagnetic fields ⓘ |
| usedIn |
classical electrodynamics
ⓘ
continuum mechanics of electromagnetic media ⓘ electromagnetic force calculations ⓘ electromagnetic momentum conservation laws ⓘ electromagnetic radiation pressure calculations ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.