Question

Who unified electricity and magnetism?

Answer 1

Hint: Electricity is produced by the movement of electric charges basically electrons. Magnetism on others is a phenomenon which is induced when electric charges come into motion. If the charges are at rest, then there will be no magnetic effects.

Complete step by step solution:
The unification of electricity and magnetism was done by the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell in the late 19th century. Until his work electricity and magnetism were considered as two distinct phenomena with no relationship between them. The electric charges whether at rest or in motion interact with each other via coulombic forces while on other hand in order for magnetic force we need to have a magnetic field and that can be produced only when the charges are in motion.

Additional Information: Along with Maxwell some important contribution was also given by the Dutch physicist Lorentz who has worked on forces acting on the charges when both the electric field and magnetic field are present. Most of the phenomena happening all around us in nature can be beautifully described using the laws of electromagnetism. James Maxwell has given four famous equations which describes all the laws of electromagnetism. All our modern day technological inventions like computers, mobile phones, WIFI or 5g technology all have become possible due to the work of Maxwell and other physicists.

Note: Now the study of electricity and magnetism is together termed as electromagnetism. It is an important branch of physics and is widely used in everyday life.