The conflict between Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's theory primarily arises from their different descriptions of the behavior of electromagnetic waves and the propagation of light.
Newtonian mechanics, developed by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century, provides a framework for describing the motion of macroscopic objects. It is based on three fundamental laws: the law of inertia, the relationship between force and acceleration (F = ma), and the principle of action and reaction. Newtonian mechanics successfully explains the motion of objects on Earth and within the solar system.
On the other hand, James Clerk Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism, formulated in the 19th century, describes the behavior of electric and magnetic fields and their interaction with charged particles. Maxwell's theory encompasses a set of equations known as Maxwell's equations, which mathematically describe the behavior of electromagnetic waves, including light.
The conflict arises when considering the nature of light and its propagation. According to Newtonian mechanics, light was thought to be made up of particles called "corpuscles" that traveled in straight lines. However, Maxwell's theory demonstrated that light is an electromagnetic wave, composed of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space at a constant speed.
Maxwell's theory successfully explained a wide range of phenomena, including the behavior of light, the generation of electromagnetic waves, and the concept of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, these wave-like properties of light contradicted the particle-like behavior of light proposed by Newtonian mechanics.
The conflict between the two theories was further highlighted by the famous Michelson-Morley experiment in the late 19th century, which aimed to detect the hypothetical "ether" medium through which light waves were thought to propagate. The experiment failed to detect any evidence of the ether, providing strong support for Maxwell's theory and challenging the prevailing Newtonian view of light.
Ultimately, the conflict between Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's theory led to the development of a new framework known as special relativity by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century. Special relativity reconciled the differences between the two theories by providing a unified description of space, time, and motion that accounted for the behavior of light as both a particle and a wave. It showed that Newtonian mechanics is an approximation valid at low speeds compared to the speed of light and that Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism is consistent with the principles of relativity.