到这里不得不感慨一下麦克斯韦天才的头脑. 实际上当我刚学完积分形式的麦克斯韦方程组就已经佩服的五体投地了. 麦克斯韦方程组不仅解释了经典电磁学现象,在数学上也非常优美. 其优美的体现就是麦克斯韦方程组具有高度的对称性,尤其是在真空中的形式:我们观察前两个方程: (真空中无电荷)现在看后两个: (真空中无电流)同时积分形式的方程也表现出高度的对称性: (1) (2) (3) (4)实际上如果存在磁单极,麦克斯韦的方程组的对称性和美感将会被提升到极致. 但是现在,磁单极还没有被找到. 不过能在我们的生活中出现如此优美的方程,我们理应感到满足,并且庆幸在这个混乱的宇宙中还存在这样优美的规律. 同时,我们也应该为人类这一群体中曾经出现麦克斯韦这样的天才感到荣幸. 在此引用我物理课本上的一句话:“Maxwell’s synthesis of electromagnetism stands as a towering intellectual achievement.” 麦克斯韦对电磁学的统一是人类智慧上的至高成就同时引用伟大的麻省理工物理教授Walter Lewin在他的电磁学课程8.02中的语录:So we have completed a long journey, and on April 5, we have reached the summit. Now I realized that the view is not spectacular for all of you yet, because often at the summit there is some fog. But the fog will clear. And I can assure you that from here and on, it's climbing downhill. I think this moment is worth celebrating, and therefore I bought 600 daffodils for this occasion. And I would like you to come at the end of the lecture and pick up one of these daffodils and take it back to your dormitory. I don't know whether I have enough for all these high school students and all their parents, but why not, give it a shot, and take one. And when you look it tonight at home and tomorrow, remember that you only once in your life go through this experience, that for the first time you see all four Maxwell's equation complete, hold it, and that you're capable of appreciating them at least in principle. This will never happen again. You will never be the same. To put it in simple terms, as far as 8.02 is concerned, you are no longer unspoiled virginal material. You've lost your virginity. Congratulations!”