%0 Journal Article
%T Derivation of the Lorentz Force Law and the Magnetic Field Concept using an Invariant Formulation of the Lorentz Transformation
%A J. H. Field
%J Physics
%D 2003
%I arXiv
%X It is demonstrated how the right hand sides of the Lorentz Transformation equations may be written, in a Lorentz invariant manner, as 4--vector scalar products. The formalism is shown to provide a short derivation, in which the 4--vector electromagnetic potential plays a crucial role, of the Lorentz force law of classical electrodynamics, and the conventional definition of the magnetic field in terms spatial derivatives of the 4--vector potential. The time component of the relativistic generalisation of the Lorentz force law is discussed. An important physical distinction between the space-time and energy-momentum 4--vectors is also pointed out.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0307133v1