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Single-Particle Electrodynamics - Assassination Science

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perhaps, fortunately,—such a “fudge factor” approach cannot even be made<br />

to work. We are thus left with the Lagrangian on the one hand, describing<br />

all of the evolution of the system except for the effects of radiation reaction;<br />

and the radiation reaction terms on the other, sticking out like the canine’s<br />

proverbials.<br />

And then Lorentz makes the statement quoted at the head of this chapter.<br />

When first heard, it invariably sounds absurd. Imagine, for example, a small<br />

sphere, uniformly charged throughout its volume. The Coulomb field of<br />

each infinitesimal volume of charge imparts an electric force on every other<br />

infinitesimal volume of charge in the sphere. Indeed, the like charges all<br />

repel, and the sphere explodes. This is not our intention; let us, therefore,<br />

add other, non-electromagnetic forces that balance the Coulomb forces, and<br />

hence bind the infinitesimal constituent charges together. These rigid body<br />

forces are completely internal, so they do not contribute to the motion of<br />

the centre of mass of the body. Lorentz’s statement then amounts to saying:<br />

let’s add up all the Coulomb forces, and see what the resultant net force on<br />

the body as a whole is. But of course it is zero: the force of the Coulomb<br />

field of constituent charge A on constituent charge B is, quite trivially, equal<br />

and opposite to that of constituent B on constituent A.<br />

But still Lorentz insists that we should add up the interactions between<br />

the constituents of the charge. To extract any physics from such an intuitively<br />

useless pastime is the mark of sheer brilliance. One is therefore completely<br />

humbled when one realises that one has, in fact, forgotten Maxwell’s words,<br />

quoted at the head of Chapter 5: “. . . without assuming the existence of<br />

forces capable of acting directly at sensible distances.” The Coulomb force is<br />

not instantaneously propagated from sender to receiver; it propagates at the<br />

speed of light. The Coulomb force felt now by constituent A is determined<br />

by the motion of constituent B as it was some time ago; the Coulomb force<br />

felt now by constituent B is likewise determined by the motion of constituent<br />

A as it was some time ago. We may still fail to see, through this observation,<br />

222

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