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B versus H



At 10:46 AM 7/27/00 -0500, Doug Craigen disliked frank cange's usage of B
for "magnetic field: and advocated:

B chosen for "magnetic induction" (or the less ambiguous alternative -
"magnetic flux density") and H for magnetic field.

Hmmm.... not so fast. There are two reputable schools of thought on
this. Some folks write the Maxwell equations in terms of del dot B and
call B the magnetic field. Others write del dot H. Similar remarks apply
to del dot E versus del dot D.

In a case like this, the best way to proceed is:

*) When writing, be explicit about which version is being used. Use it
consistently.

*) When reading, interpret things the way the author wanted them to be
interpreted, especially if the author is clear and consistent.

[Similar remarks apply to the conflicting technical definitions of "heat".]