The basis physics is obviously the same, but what would be the difference between how an engineer and a physicist understand electromagnetism? I know the applications are different, but are there any differences that you know of in the fundamental understanding between people who apply the same topic in different ways?
There are at least three key differences:
- In engineering disciplines, electric and magnetic fields are thought of two different things. In physics, because of the theory of special relativity, we think of these two fields as being part of a single inseparable mathematical object and the mathematical language that we use to describe these fields emphasizes their unity.
- In engineering disciplines, voltages and currents are emphasized since they are quantities that are readily measurable and controllable in a laboratory setting. In physics, the electric scalar potential (another name for voltage) and the magnetic vector potential (related to current) are treated as more fundamental mathematically.
- The two disciplines differ on what the word “induce” means. In engineering disciplines, “induces” is usually taken to mean “causes” or “creates.” As an example of usage: Faraday’s Law states that a changing magnetic field induces an electric field. In engineering disciplines, the use of the word “induces” implies causality between the two fields. In physics, “induces” implies correlation. In other words, both electric and magnetic fields are ultimately and simultaneously due to the moving electrical charges. Therefore, in a physics sense, “induce” means that, due to the same underlying moving electrical charge, both a magnetic field and an electric field are created and their temporal and spatial variations are correlated.