What is the Difference Between Electrostatics and Magnetostatics?

Electrostatics and magnetostatics are two branches of electromagnetism that deal with different aspects of electromagnetic fields. Here are the key differences between them:

• Electrostatics is the study of current-free charge distribution, focusing on the behavior of electric charges at rest. It is associated with both conductive and non-conductive materials. Some key concepts in electrostatics include:
• Field intensity: $$\bf{E}$$ (V/m)
• Flux density: $$\bf{D}$$ (C/m²)
• Material relations: $$\bf{D} = \epsilon \bf{E}$$
• Force on charge $$q$$: $$\bf{F} = q \bf{E}$$
• Magnetostatics is the study of magnetic fields in systems where the currents are steady, dealing with stationary current distribution and its associated magnetic fields, which are independent of electric fields. Magnetostatics is associated with magnetizable materials. Some key concepts in magnetostatics include:
• Field intensity: $$\bf{H}$$ (A/m)
• Flux density: $$\bf{B}$$ (Wb/m²=T)
• Material relations: $$\bf{B} = \mu \bf{H}$$
• Force on charge $$q$$: $$\bf{F} = q \bf{v} \times \bf{B}$$

In summary, electrostatics focuses on the behavior of electric charges at rest, while magnetostatics focuses on magnetic fields in systems with steady currents. Both fields exhibit similarities, known as duality, which can be seen in the comparisons between their key concepts.

Comparative Table: Electrostatics vs Magnetostatics

Here is a table comparing electrostatics and magnetostatics:

Electrostatics deals with electric fields resulting from stationary electric charges, while magnetostatics deals with magnetic fields resulting from steady currents. Both fields exhibit similarities, which are referred to as duality.