Comparison between Weber's electrodynamics and classical electrodynamics

A K T ASSIS* and H TORRES SILVA

Facultad de Ingenieria, Universidad de Tarapaca, Av. 18 de Septiembre 2222, Arica, Chile

Permanent address: Instituto de Fisica 'Gleb Wataghin', Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Unicamp, 13083-970 Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brasil

Email: assis@ifi.unicamp.br; htorres@socoroma.electa.uta.cl

Abstract.

We present the main aspects of Weber's electrodynamics and of Maxwell's equations. We discuss Maxwell's point of view related toWeber's electrodynamics. We compare Weber's force with Lorentz's force. We analyse the relation between Weber's law and Maxwell's equations. Finally, we discuss some experiments performed and proposed with which we can distinguish Weber's force from Lorentz's one.

Keywords: Weber's electrodynamics; Maxwell's equations; Lorentz's force; classical electromagnetism.

Pacs No. 41.20.Bt; 41.20.-q; 03.50.De