The electromagnetism uniqueness theorem states that a solution to Maxwell's equations, if one exists, is unique once suitable boundary conditions are fixed: the initial values of the electric, magnetic, and associated field quantities must be specified everywhere in the volume at the starting time, and thereafter either the tangential electric field or the tangential magnetic field must be specified at the boundary for all later times. The theorem guarantees only that the fields inside the specified volume are unique, not that the sources producing a given external field are unique, since a uniformly charged sphere, for example, produces the same external field as a point charge of the same total charge placed at its center.
Facts
StatementThe uniqueness (but not necessarily the existence) of a solution to Maxwell's equations, given specified initial values of all fields and specified tangential E or H at the boundary for all times. 1 Classification
Statement Form Connections
Has Statement Form
Entity-backed identity for the statement-form enum value this theorem already carries, resolved to a mathematics concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The statement-form fact itself stays on the theorem unchanged.
Sources
1. Electromagnetism uniqueness theorem - Wikipedia
Introduction, sentence 1Quote, Introduction, sentence 1
states the uniqueness (but not necessarily the existence) of a solution to Maxwell's equations
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