The Nature of Science: A Case Study of Electromagnetic Theory from Oersted to Hertz.

This paper is a case study of the development of a scientific theory, specifically, the development of electromagnetics in the 19th century. After a brief introduction that discusses the nature of science and technology and their interaction in modern research and development, an overview of the science of electricity and magnetism prior to 1800 is presented. Following this introduction, the study focuses on the contributions to the development of electromagnetic theory of four major scientists--Hans Christian Oersted, Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell, and Heinrich Hertz. Author