法拉第发现电磁感应现象及其思想转变过程

Faraday’s Discovery of Electromagnetic Induction and the Process of the Transformation of His Ideas

文章根据法拉第的日记、'电学实验研究系列一'手稿和书信等文献,对他发现电磁感应现象和相关研究以及曲折的思想转变过程进行了深入探讨。这一过程由两个阶段组成。1831年8至12月是第一阶段,法拉第发现电磁感应现象,对产生它的各种条件做了系统的实验研究,提出了'电紧张态'的概念并力图对电磁感应物理机制做出合理的解释,撰写了'电学实验研究系列一'论文初稿,但对感应电流的方向存在错误认识。1831年12月至1832年4月是第二阶段,法拉第通过更为仔细的实验观察纠正了感应电流方向的错误认识,形成了'磁曲线'思想,研究了地磁电感应现象,完成了'电学实验研究系列一'的修改稿和'电学实验研究系列二'论文稿,总结了电磁感应现象产生的一般规律。文章指出,法拉第纠正感应电流方向的错误认识,准确把握感应电流方向的判别方法,对其'磁曲线'思想乃至力线思想的形成起到了重要作用;同时,还对前人相关研究中出现的错误及其产生的原因做了分析和说明,对一些有争议的问题提出了不同的观点。

In the light of Faraday’s Diaries,his manuscript of’Experimental Researches in Electricity.Series I’,his letters and other literature,this paper presents a detailed investigation into Faraday’s discovery of electromagnetic induction and the process of the transformation of his ideas.It points out that this process consists of two stages.In the first stage,from August 1831 to December1831,Faraday discovered the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction.Based on his systematic experimental research into it,he put forward the concept of the electrotonic state and composed the draft of’Experimental Researches in Electricity.Series I’.However,he misunderstood the direction of the induced currents.In the second stage,from December 1831 to April 1832,he corrected this misunderstanding of the direction of the induced currents by making more careful experimental research,formed the concept of magnetic curves,conducted systematic experimental research into Terrestrial Magneto-electric Induction,and completed the modification of’Experimental Researches in Electricity.Series I’and the draft of’Experimental Researches in Electricity.Series II’,as well as acquiring a clearer understanding of the law of the electromagnetic induction.Furthermore,the paper argues that Faraday’s correction of his misunderstandings of the direction of the induced currents played an important role in the formation of his concepts of magnetic curves and force lines.At the same time,it points out some scholars’misunderstandings concerning Faraday’s discovery of electromagnetic induction,and puts forward different viewpoints regarding some controversies in Faradayan studies.