On The Low Speed Limits of Lorentz's Transformation

TL;DR

This paper reviews the low speed limits of Lorentz transformations in electromagnetism, emphasizing that relativistic effects remain significant even at low velocities for a consistent electromagnetic theory.

Contribution

It clarifies the importance of relativistic effects in electromagnetic theory at low speeds and reviews quasi-static limits to address common misconceptions.

Findings

Relativistic effects are essential even at low speeds for electromagnetic consistency.

Quasi-static limits can partly neglect relativistic effects, but with caution.

Classical electromagnetism fundamentally remains a relativistic theory.

Abstract

This article contains a digest of the theory of electromagnetism and a review of the transformation between inertial frames, especially under low speed limits. The covariant nature of the Maxwell's equations is explained using the conventional language. We show that even under low speed limits, the relativistic effects should not be neglected to get a self-consistent theory of the electromagnetic fields, unless the intrinsic dynamics of these fields has been omitted completely. The quasi-static limits, where the relativistic effects can be partly neglected are also reviewed, to clarify some common misunderstandings and imprecise use of the theory in presence of moving media and other related situations. The discussion presented in this paper provide a clear view of why classical electromagnetic theory is relativistic in its essence.