A central theme of my Fields & Energy project is that the foundations of electromagnetism are not forbiddingly complex. With a bit of thought and patience, anyone with a sharp and inquisitive mind can grasp the essentials, no advanced degree required. This discussion with programmer and mathematician Chris Lansdown at the Missing the Mark Podcast drives that point home.
I explain my theory that electromagnetism should be understood as two separate phenomena: fields that behave like waves and energy that behaves like particles, instead of photons combining the mutually contradictory properties of wave and particle at the same time.
The discussion covers historical developments in physics, particularly Ernst Machβs positivist influence on Einstein, the institutional dynamics that led to the suppression of alternative quantum interpretations like de Broglie-Bohm theory, and the disconnect between modern physics education and practical electromagnetic engineering.
The conversation explores how scientific institutions, funding structures, peer review systems, and social dynamics within academia may influence which theories gain acceptance, while also examining the historical development of electromagnetic theory from early electrical experiments through Maxwell's equations. I presents my alternative framework through examples of electromagnetic phenomena and argues that conventional models fail to adequately explain energy flow in electromagnetic systems.
Chris Lansdown is a programmer with a masters in mathematics, as well as an accomplished author. If you enjoy cozy murder mysteries, you should check out The Dean Died Over Winter Break. Heβs @ctlansdown on Twitter, and he blogged about our discussion, here.
I had a wonderful time speaking with Chris, and I hope you enjoy our conversation. Thanks for reading Fields & Energy, and donβt forget, there are just a few days left to back Fields & Energy and be one of the first to receive Book I.
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