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The analogy between electromagnetism and hydrodynamics

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 PHYSICS ESSAYS 24, 2 共2011兲

The analogy between electromagnetism and hydrodynamics

Arbab I. Arbaba兲
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 321, Khartoum 11115, Sudan
共Received 8 July 2010; accepted 7 March 2011; published online 29 March 2011兲
Abstract: Employing quaternionic Newton’s law, we have found that the energy conservation
equation is the analog of Lorenz gauge in electromagnetism. This Newton’s law yields directly the
Euler equation and other equations governing the fluid motion. With this formalism, the pressure
contributes positively to the dynamics of the system in the same way mass does. Hydrodynamic
equations are derived from Maxwell’s equations by adopting an electromagnetohydrodynamics
analogy. In this analogy the hydroelectric field is related to the local acceleration of the fluid and the
Lorenz gauge is related to the incompressible fluid condition. The equations governing the fluid
motion are analogous to those governing the motion of a charged particle. An analogous Lorenz
gauge in hydrodynamics is proposed. We have shown that the vorticity of the fluid is developed
whenever the particle local acceleration of the fluid deviates from the velocity direction. We have
also shown that Lorentz force in electromagnetism corresponds to Euler force in fluids. Moreover,
we have obtained Gauss, Faraday, and Ampere-like laws in hydrodynamics. © 2011 Physics Essays
Publication. 关DOI: 10.4006/1.3570825兴

Résumé: Nous utilisons la loi quaternique de Newton et nous trouvons que l’équation de conser-
vation de l’énergie est similaire à la jauge de Lorenz en électromagnétisme. Cette loi de Newton
conduit directement à l’équation d’Euler et à d’autres équations régissant le mouvement du fluide.
Par le biais de ce formalisme, il est montré que la pression contribue positivement à la dynamique
du système exactement comme fait la masse. Les équations hydrodynamiques sont extraites des
équations de Maxwell en adoptant une analogie électromagnétohydrodynamique. Dans cette analo-
gie le champ hydroélectrique est relié à l’accélération locale du fluide alors que la jauge de Lorenz
est liée à la condition du fluide incompressible. Les équations décrivant le mouvement du fluide
sont analogs à celles régissant le mouvement d’une particule chargée. Aussi, nous proposons une
jauge en hydrodynamique semblable à la jauge de Lorentz et nous montrons que l’aspect tourbillon
du fluide émerge chaque fois que l’accélération locale des particules du fluide s’écarte de la direc-
tion de la vitesse. Nous montrons également que la force de Lorentz en électromagnétisme corre-
spond à la force d’Euler pour les fluides. En outre, nous obtenons des lois en hydrodynamique de
type Gauss, Faraday et Ampère.
Key words: Quaternion; Hydrodynamics; Analogy; Electrodynamics.

I. INTRODUCTION to the previous analysis done in electromagnetism, we would

We have recently formulated Maxwell equations using
quaternion.1 In this formalism, we have shown that Maxwell
equations have not included the magnetic field produced by
the charged particle. Consequently, we have also shown that
this magnetic field is given by an equation equivalent to
Biot–Savart law. Moreover, we have shown that the mag-
netic field created by the charged particle is always perpen-
dicular to the particle direction of motion. We have then
introduced the quaternionic continuity equation and com-
pared it with the ordinary continuity equation. Consequently,
we have found that Maxwell equations predict that the elec-
tromagnetic fields propagate in vacuum or a charged medium
with the same speed of light in vacuum if this quaternionic
continuity equation is valid.
In the present paper we explore the idea of formulating
the fluid equations using the quaternion description. Owing
a兲
aiarbab@uofk.edu
like to further establish an analogy between quaternionic hy-
drodynamic and quaternionic Maxwell’s equations. Accord-
ingly, it turns out that quaternionic Newton’s equation gives
directly the nonrelativistic limit of the energy momentum
conservation equation. These equations are the Euler equa-
tion, the continuity equation, and the energy momentum con-
servation equation. Thus, an analogy between hydrodynam-
ics and electrodynamics is shown to exist. This analogy
guarantees that one can derive the appropriate equations of
the former system from the latter or vice versa. This analogy
is quite impressing where the fluid motion is analogous to
charged particle motion.
Quaternionic Newton’s second law is developed and
generalized Newton’s law of motion is then obtained. The
application of the generalized continuity equations 共GCEs兲 to
generalized Newton’s law yields the nonrelativistic equations
governing the motion of fluids. It is interesting to notice that
generalized continuity equations are Lorentz invariant. The
fluid vorticity is found to arise whenever the local accelera-

0836-1398/2011/24共2兲/254/6/$25.00 254 © 2011 Physics Essays Publication

Phys. Essays 24, 2 共2011兲 255

tion of the fluid particles deviates from the velocity direction. III. NEWTON’S SECOND LAW OF MOTION
The physical properties and the equations governing the hy-
drodynamics are derived. We remark here that these equa- The motion of the mass 共m兲 is governed by Newton’s
tions can be put in analogous forms to Gauss’s, Faraday’s, second law. The quaternionic Newton force reads1
and Ampere’s laws. Moreover, we have found that the diffu- ˜ Ṽ兲,
F̃ = − mṼ共ⵜ 共8兲
sion equation is compatible with the GCEs. We, therefore,
emphasize that the GCEs should append any model dealing where

冉 冊
with fluid motion. According to this analogy and since the
electrodynamics is written in terms of the electric and mag- i
F̃ = ជ ,
P,F Ṽ = 共ic,vជ 兲. 共9兲
ជ e and Bជ , respectively, we should write the hy-
netic fields, E c
drodynamics equations in terms of the hydroelectric field E ជh
The vector part of Eq. 共8兲 yields the following two equations:
and vorticity ␻ ជ and will then obtain analogous equations to
Maxwell equations. This is legitimate because of the analogy
that exists between the two paradigms permits, viz., E
ជ ជ ជ
ជ h ⇔ Eជ e Fជ = m 冉 ⳵ vជ
⳵t
+ⵜ 冉冊
2
2
ជ v − vជ ⫻ 共ⵜ
ជ ⫻ vជ 兲 冊 共10兲
and ␻ជ ⇔ B, vជ ⇔ A and ␹ = v / 2 ⇔ ␸, where Eh = −⳵vជ / ⳵t and
2

␻ ជ ⫻ vជ .
ជ =ⵜ and
⳵v
ជ ⫻ vជ = − vជ ⫻ ជ .
ⵜ 共11兲
c2 ⳵t
II. THE CONTINUITY EQUATION
The scalar part of Eq. 共8兲 yields the following two equations:

冉 冊 冉 冊
We have recently explored the application of quaternions
⳵v 1 ⳵ v2/2
to Maxwell’s equations.1 We have found that quaternionic ជ · vជ + vជ · ជ = mc2 ⵜ
P = mc2 ⵜ ជ · vជ + 共12兲
Maxwell’s equation reduces to ordinary Maxwell’s equations c2 ⳵ t c2 ⳵ t
but predicts the existence of a scalar wave competing with
the electromagnetic field traveling at the speed of light in and
vacuum. Quaternions are found to have interesting proper- ជ ⫻ vជ 兲 = 0.
vជ · 共ⵜ 共13兲
ties. The multiplication rule for the two quaternions, Ã
ជ 兲 and B̃ = 共b0,Bជ 兲, is given by2
= 共a0,A For a continuous medium 共fluid兲 containing a volume V, one
can write Eq. 共10兲 as
ជ · Bជ ,a0Bជ + Aជ b0 + Aជ ⫻ Bជ 兲.
冉 冉冊 冊
ÃB̃ = 共a0b0 − A 共1兲
⳵ vជ 2

Therefore, the ordinary continuity equation is transformed ␳ ជ v − vជ ⫻ 共ⵜ

+ⵜ ជ ⫻ vជ 兲 = ជf , 共14兲
⳵t 2
into a quaternionic continuity equation as

冋冉ជ · Jជ +
˜ J̃ = − ⵜ
ⵜ ,
⳵t c ⳵t
冊冉
⳵␳ i ⳵ Jជ
ជ ␳c2 + ⵜ
+ⵜ 冊 册
ជ ⫻ Jជ = 0, 共2兲
where m = ␳V and ជf = F ជ / V.
Using the vector identity
ជ 兲vជ , Eq. 共14兲 becomes
+ 共vជ · ⵜ
共 21 兲ⵜជ 共vជ · vជ 兲 = vជ ⫻ 共ⵜជ ⫻ vជ 兲

冉 冊
where
⳵ vជ
冉 冊 ␳ ជ 兲vជ = ជf .
+ 共vជ · ⵜ 共15兲
˜ = i ⳵ ,ⵜ
ⵜ ជ , J̃ = 共i␳c,Jជ 兲. 共3兲 ⳵t
c ⳵t
This is the familiar Euler equation describing the motion of a
The scalar and vector parts of Eq. 共2兲 imply that fluid. For a fluid moving under pressure 共Pr兲, one can write
⳵␳ the pressure force density as
ជ · Jជ +
ⵜ = 0, 共4兲
⳵t ជf P = − ⵜ
ជ Pr , 共16兲

1 ⳵ Jជ so that Eq. 共15兲 becomes

ជ␳ +
冉 冊
ⵜ = 0, 共5兲
c2 ⳵ t ⳵ vជ
␳ ជ 兲vជ = − ⵜ
+ 共vជ · ⵜ ជ Pr . 共17兲
and ⳵t

ជ ⫻ Jជ = 0.
ⵜ 共6兲 Using Eq. 共5兲, Eq. 共12兲 can be written as

We call Eqs. 共4兲–共6兲 the GCEs. In a covariant form, Eqs. ⳵u

ជ · Sជ = ជf · vជ ,
+ⵜ Sជ = 共␳c2兲vជ , u = ␳ v 2, P = ជf · vជ .
共4兲–共6兲 read3 ⳵t
⳵␮J␮ = 0, ⳵␮J␯ − ⳵␯J␮ = 0. 共7兲 共18兲

Hence the GCEs are Lorentz invariant. We remark that the Equation 共18兲 is an energy conservation equation, where Sជ is
GCEs are applicable to any flow whether created by charged the energy flux and u is the energy density of the moving
particles or neutral ones. fluid. With pressure term only, Eq. 共18兲 yields
256 Phys. Essays 24, 2 共2011兲

⳵u ជ ⫻ Jជ = ⵜ
ⵜ ជ ⫻ 共␳vជ 兲 = ␳共ⵜ
ជ ⫻ vជ 兲 − vជ ⫻ 共ⵜ
ជ ␳兲 = 0, 共25兲
ជ · 共␳c2 + Pr兲vជ = Prⵜ
+ⵜ ជ · vជ . 共19兲
⳵t
which upon using Eq. 共4兲 transforms into
The source term on the right hand side in the above equation
⳵v
is related to the work needed to expand the fluid. It is shown ជ ⫻ vជ = − vជ ⫻ ជ .
ⵜ 共26兲
by Lima et al.4 that such a term has to be added to the usual c 2
⳵t
equation of fluid dynamics to account for the work related to
Thus, Eq. 共11兲 derived from Newton’s second law is equiva-
the local expansion of the fluid. It is thus remarkable we
lent to one of the continuity equations, viz., Eq. 共5兲. Taking
derive the fundamental hydrodynamics equations from just
the dot product of Eq. 共5兲 with a constant velocity vជ , we get
two simple quaternionic equations: the continuity and New-
ton’s equation. For incompressible fluids ⵜជ · vជ = 0 so that Eq. 1 ⳵ Jជ
共19兲 becomes ជ␳ +
vជ · ⵜ ជ
v · = 0,
c2 ⳵ t
⳵u
ជ · 共␳c2 + Pr兲vជ = 0,
+ⵜ 共20兲 which yields
⳵t

which states that the pressure contributes positively to the

energy flow. This means the total energy flow of the moving
d␳ ⳵
=
dt ⳵ t
v2
c
冉 冊
1 − 2 ␳.

fluid is According to Lorentz transformation, if the density in the

Sជ total = 共␳c2 + Pr兲vជ ,
and the total momentum density of the flow is given by
rest frame is ␳, it will be ␳⬘ = 共1 − v2 / c2兲␳ in the moving
共21兲 inertial frame. Thus, taking the total derivative is equivalent
to taking the partial derivative of the density in a moving
inertial frame.6 In terms of the vorticity, the above equation

pជ = ␳ + 冉 冊 Pr
共22兲
becomes

冉 冊
vជ ,
c2 vជ ⳵ vជ
␻
ជ= 2 ⫻ − . 共27兲
which must be conserved. This is analogous to the general c ⳵t
theory of relativity where the pressure and mass are sources The vorticity is related to the angular velocity of the fluid
of gravitation. Equation 共20兲 states also that there is no loss ជ 兲 by the relation ␻ ជ . This clearly shows that the fluid
共⍀ ជ = 2⍀
or gain of energy for incompressible fluids. However, when
motion is governed by the continuity equation as well as
viscous terms considered loss of energy, friction will arise. In
Newton’s equation.
standard cosmology, the general trend of introducing the
In a recent paper, we have shown that the magnetic field
bulk viscosity 共␩兲 1 is done by replacing the pressure term Pr
produced by a moving charged particle due to an external
with the effective pressure5
electric field is given by1
ជ · vជ .
Peff = Pr − ␩ⵜ 共23兲
ជ = vជ ⫻ Eជ .
B 共28兲
Substituting this in Eq. 共17兲 and defining the vorticity of the c2
fluid by ␻
ជ =ⵜជ ⫻ vជ , we get
We remark here that there seems to be a resemblance be-

␳ 冉 ⳵ vជ
⳵t
冊
ជ 兲vជ = − ⵜ
+ 共vជ · ⵜ ជ Pr + ␩ⵜ2vជ + ␩ⵜ
ជ ⫻␻
ជ, 共16⬘兲
tween the vorticity of flow and the magnetic field produced
by the charged particle. This analogy is evident from the fact
that Bជ =ⵜជ ⫻ Aជ and ␻ជ =ⵜ ជ ⫻ vជ . Moreover, Eq. 共13兲 shows that
which reduces to the Navier–Stokes equation for irrotational the fluid helicity h f = vជ · ␻
ជ = 0, and Eq. 共28兲 shows that the
flow 共␻
ជ = 0兲. Equation 共20兲 can be put in a covariant form as magnetic helicity hm = vជ · Bជ = 0.7 These two equations imply

冉 冊
Pr
⳵␮T␮␯ = 0, T ␮␯ = ␳ + v ␮v ␯ − P rg ␮␯ ,
c2
where T␮␯ is the energy momentum tensor of a perfect fluid,
v␮ is its velocity, and g␮␯ is the metric tensor with signature
共+++−兲. It is interesting to remark that we pass from quater-
nion Newton’s law to relativity without any offsetting. This
is unlike the case of ordinary Newton’s law where relativistic
effects cannot be included directly.
Using the vector identity ⵜ ជ ⫻ 共fAជ 兲 = f共ⵜ
ជ ⫻ Aជ 兲 − Aជ ⫻ 共ⵜ
with Jជ = ␳vជ , Eq. 共6兲 can be written as
1
The viscous pressure can be obtained from the viscous force
ជ = −A␩共dvជ / dr兲 ⇒ Pv = F / A = −␩ⵜ
F ជ · vជ .
that the vorticity is always perpendicular to the fluid velocity
in the same way that the magnetic field generated by a mov-
共24兲
ing charged particle is perpendicular to the particle velocity.
Using vector identities, it is obvious from Eq. 共11兲 that
ⵜជ ·␻
ជ = 0. This equation resembles the equation ⵜ ជ · Bជ = 0. The
former equation implies that vortex lines must form closed
loops or be terminated at a boundary, and that the strength of
a vortex line remains constant. Thus, a charged particle cre-
ates a magnetic field associated with the particle in the same
way as the fluid creates a vortex that moves with the particle.
ជ f兲
According to de Broglie hypothesis, a wave nature is asso-
ciated with all moving microparticles. It, thus, seems that
vorticity and magnetic fields travel like a wave.
With the same token, Eqs. 共27兲 and 共28兲 suggest that the
hydroelectric field is given by
Phys. Essays 24, 2 共2011兲 257

TABLE I. The above table shows the analogy between hydrodynamics and electrodynamics.

Theory Circulation Gauge fields Gauge condition Helicity Matter field

1 ⳵␸ ⳵ Aជ
ជ · Aជ +
ⵜ =0 ជe = −
E ជ␸
−ⵜ
Electrodynamics ជ =ⵜ
B ជ ⫻ Aជ ␸,Aជ c2 ⳵ t ជ
he = vជ · B ⳵t
⳵v
ជh = − ជ − ⵜ
E ជ␹
v2 1 ⳵␹ ⳵t
␹ = , vជ ជ · vជ +
ⵜ =0
Hydrodynamics ␻ ជ ⫻ vជ
ជ =ⵜ 2 c2 ⳵ t f h = vជ · ␻
ជ

⳵v ជ em = q共Eជ e + vជ ⫻ Bជ 兲.
ជh = − ជ ⇒ ␻
E
vជ
ជ = 2 ⫻ Eជ h. 共29兲
F 共32兲
⳵t c
This is a very interesting analogy, since for electron q ⬍ 0 so
This field is generated due to the fluid 共mass兲 motion. In that −m ⬍ 0, Bជ ⇔ ␻ ជ , and Eជ e ⇔ Eជ h. We know that the electric
analogy with electromagnetism, using Eq. 共29兲, one can de- field created by a moving charged particle is perpendicular to
fine the hydromotive force as its velocity direction; i.e., vជ · Eជ e = 0. For the fluid one should

␧H = 冕 ជ h · dᐉ
E ជ =−
⳵
⳵t
冕 ជ =−
vជ · dᐉ
⳵⌫
⳵t
, ⌫= 冕 ជ,
vជ · dᐉ
find that vជ · Eជ h = 0. Using Eq. 共29兲, his equation implies that
vជ · 共⳵vជ / ⳵t兲 = 共⳵v2 / 2兲 / ⳵t = 0. Using Eq. 共30兲, this yields the
compressibility condition ⵜ ជ · vជ = 0.
where ⌫ is the circulation of the fluid. This circulation is The complete analogy is tabulated below. We would like
analogous to the magnetic flux. However, for an ideal fluid to call this symmetry an electromagnetohydrodynamics
under conservative body forces, Kelvin’s theorem states that 共EMH兲 analogy. The following table shows the analogy be-
the circulation is conserved, i.e., ⌫ = const. Hence, the hydro- tween electromagnetic and hydrodynamics. As the electric
motive force vanishes for ideal fluids. field of an electron points opposite to the force direction, the
In analogy with electromagnetism, the shift in quantum hydroelectric field 共E ជ h兲 points opposite to the direction of
phase due to the change in the particles’ momentum along its flow motion. It is an amazing analogy. Employing this anal-
trajectory is given by the line integral ogy, we would like to derive the hydrodynamics laws from

冖
the electrodynamics corresponding ones. We call this sym-
m
␦= vជ · dជ ᐉ = m⌫/ប. metry an EMH transitivity. Table I shows the analogy be-
ប tween electromagnetic and hydrodynamics. As the electric
ជ · Aជ = 0兲 in electrodynamics field of an electron points opposite to the force direction, the
Moreover, the Coulomb gauge 共ⵜ ជ h兲 points opposite to the direction of
ជ · vជ = 0兲; hydroelectric field 共E
is equivalent to the incompressibility of the fluid 共ⵜ
flow motion.
however, the Lorenz gauge is equivalent to
It is an amazing analogy. Employing this analogy, we
1 ⳵ 共v2/2兲 would like to derive the hydrodynamics laws from the elec-
ជ · vជ +
ⵜ =0 共30兲
c2 ⳵ t trodynamics corresponding ones. Maxwell’s equations are
1 ⳵Eជe
in hydrodynamics.2 This equation is nothing but Eq. 共12兲 ជ ⫻ Bជ = ␮0Jជ +
ⵜ , 共33兲
when no external force is applied to the fluid; i.e., P = 0. And c2 ⳵ t
setting m = ␳V in Eq. 共12兲 yields the energy conservation
equation. Thus, multiplying the Lorenz gauge equation in ⳵ Bជ
Eq. 共30兲 by a constant density ␳ yields the energy conserva- ជ ⫻ Eជ e +
ⵜ = 0, 共34兲
⳵t
tion equation too. Equation 共30兲 shows that the incompress-
ibility is maintained for a steady flow only. When the fluid ␳e
expands, this merit is lost and the Lorenz gauge applies once ជ · Eជ e =
ⵜ , 共35兲
again. However, from our above definition of hydroelectric ␧0
field, we must impose the condition that ⵜ ជ ␹ = 0; i.e., ␹ is and
spatially independent but can depend on time; i.e., ␹ = ␹共t兲.
ជ · Bជ = 0,
ⵜ 共36兲
The unit of ␹ is J/kg or m2 / s2. This defines the energy re-
quired to move 1 kg of fluid. If we had defined the hydro- where ␳e is the charge density. Employing the EMH analogy,
ជ 共v2 / 2兲 共where
electric field in Eq. 共29兲 as Eជ h = −共⳵vជ / ⳵t兲 − ⵜ taking the divergence of both sides of Eq. 共33兲, and employ-
␹ = v / 2兲, the Euler force in Eq. 共10兲 would become
2
ing Eq. 共4兲 yield
ជ h = − m共Eជ h + vជ ⫻ ␻
F ជ 兲, 共31兲 ␳m
ជ · Eជ h =
ⵜ , 共37兲
␧h
which is equivalent to Lorentz force in electromagnetism
where ␮h replaces ␮0 and cs replaces c for the EMH, where
2
This gauge when multiplied by a constant density ␳ yields the momentum ␮h = ␬cs2 / ␥2, where ␥ is the surface tension, and ␬ is the bulk
conservation equation. modulus of the fluid under question. Notice that the unit of
258 Phys. Essays 24, 2 共2011兲

␮0 is H m−1, ␧0 is F m−1, and the constant a0 is kg m−1,

where a0 = ␥2 / cs2␬, which may define the resistance 共fluidity兲
of the fluid to flow. Equation 共37兲 is nothing but Gauss law in
⳵␻
ជ vជ
= 2⫻
⳵ t cs
⳵ Eជ h
⳵t
冉 冊
. 共40b兲

hydrodynamics, where E ជ e → Eជ h and the mass density 共␳m兲 Now use Eq. 共40a兲 to get
replaces the charge density 共␳e兲. Besides, Eq. 共37兲 implies
⳵␻
ជ
the hydrodynamic permittivity ␧h = ␥2 / ␬cs4. Hence, ␮h␧hcs2 ជ ⫻␻
= vជ ⫻ 共ⵜ ជ − ␮hJជ 兲, Jជ = ␳vជ . 共40c兲
= 1 共in comparison with ␮0␧0c2 = 1兲. Notice, however, that ⳵t
one can relate this constant to Newton’s constant by the re- Using the vector identity
lation a0 = cs2 / 4␲G. In this case Eq. 共37兲 becomes
ជ 共Aជ · Bជ 兲 = Aជ ⫻ 共ⵜ
ⵜ ជ ⫻ Bជ 兲 + Bជ ⫻ 共ⵜ
ជ ⫻ Aជ 兲 + 共Aជ · ⵜ
ជ 兲Bជ
ជ · Eជ h = 4␲G␳m,
ⵜ 共38兲
ជ ·ⵜ
+ 共B ជ 兲Aជ
which also suggests that G = 1 / 4␲␧h, which is to be com-
pared with Coulomb constant k = 1 / 4␲␧0. Therefore, the con- and Eq. 共13兲, we obtain the equation of vorticity for inviscid
stant a0 is a new fundamental constant. One can therefore flow
define the gravitational permittivity ␧h = 1.19 ⳵␻
ជ
⫻ 109 kg m−3 s2 and the gravitational permeability as ␮h ជ 兲␻
+ 共vជ · ⵜ ជ + 共␻ ជ 兲vជ = 0.
ជ ·ⵜ 共40d兲
⳵t
= 4␲G / cs2 = 7.25⫻ 10−15 kg m−1. In such a case the electric
field defined in Eq. 共38兲 will be gravitoelectric field. This It is interesting to note that taking the curl of Eq. 共29兲 and
coincides with the value proposed recently by Merches and using the fact that ␻ជ =ⵜជ ⫻ vជ , one gets
Onuta by considering an ideal gravitomagnetic fluid.8 The
⳵␻
vorticity field intensity of a moving fluid is Hជ f =␻
ជ / ␮h. For ជ ⫻ Eជ h + ជ = 0.
ⵜ 共41兲
Earth ␻ = 10−14 s−1 so that H f = 1.0 kg m−1 s−2. Equation ⳵t
共38兲 can be compared with the gravitational field 共gជ 兲 equa- This is the Faraday analog of hydrodynamics, where E ជ h ⇔ Eជ e
tion due to a static mass distribution of the form ⵜ ជ · gជ ជ ជ
and ␻
ជh ⇔ B . For steady flow, E h = 0 and hence ␻
ជ = const. This
= −4␲G␳m, where ␳m is a function of space variables only. In means that the vorticity is conserved. Application of the
this formalism, we see that a spinning or orbiting object will EMH analogy to Eq. 共36兲 yields
generate a hydroelectromagnetic field, where the hydroelec-
tric field is equal to the centripetal acceleration. The time ជ ·␻
ⵜ ជ = 0, 共42兲
dependence of the hydroscalar ␹ can be obtained from Eq. ជ · 共ⵜ
ជ ⫻ vជ 兲 = ⵜ
ជ ·␻
which is true using the vector identity ⵜ ជ = 0.
共38兲 using Eqs. 共29兲 and 共30兲 so that
Equations 共38兲 and 共39兲 can be applied to the gravitoelectro-
1 ⳵ 2␹ ␳ m v2 magnetic field equations. It is shown by Peng that Einstein
= , ␹= . 共39兲
cs2 ⳵ t2 ␧h 2 field equations reduce in the limit of weak field to equations
similar to these but with negative mass.9,11 However, our
This equation will have direct consequences for cosmologi- derivation here does not bear this bizarre situation. This
cal applications, which varies with cosmic time. For an ex- makes our model realistic and physically admissible.12 Using
panding universe, where a is the scale factor of the universe, Eq. 共40a兲, the fact that ␻ ជ ⫻ vជ and the vector identity ⵜ
ជ =ⵜ ជ
ⵜជ · vជ = 3共ȧ / a兲 = 3H and H is the Hubble constant. Hence, upon ជ ជ ជ
⫻ 共ⵜ ⫻ vជ 兲 = ⵜ共ⵜ · vជ 兲 − ⵜ vជ , one obtains, for incompressible
2
using Eqs. 共37兲 and 共30兲, Eq. 共39兲 yields the Friedmann fluid,
equation describing the cosmological expansion of a perfect
fluid 共the universe兲5,9 1 ⳵2vជ
− ⵜ2vជ = ␮hJជ . 共43兲
cs2 ⳵ t2
ä 4␲G
=− ␳m , Equation 共43兲 shows that the velocity vector field vជ is a
a 3
solution of a wave equation traveling at speed of sound hav-
which is solved to give the relation ␳m ⬀ t−2. We remark here ing a source Jជ . This has the same form as the equation gov-
that Eq. 共39兲 can be applicable to the motion of air inside the erning the electric potential vector Aជ in free space. Hence,
lung parenchyma. The velocity vector field 共vជ 兲 can then be instead of solving Euler equation, one can solve the above
obtained by solving Eq. 共38兲 and applying the solution in Eq. equation to get the velocity. Differentiating of Eq. 共43兲 par-
共29兲. The solution of Eq. 共39兲 depends on how ␳m varies with tially with respect to time and using Eq. 共29兲, one obtains
time. Using Eq. 共29兲 and the vector identity ⵜ ជ ⫻ 共aជ ⫻ bជ 兲
ជ ជ ជ ជ ជ ជ ជ ជ
= aជ 共ⵜ · b兲 − b共ⵜ · aជ 兲 + 共b · ⵜ兲aជ − 共aជ · ⵜ兲b yields ជh
1 ⳵ 2E 2ជ ⳵ Jជ
2 − ⵜ Eh = − ␮h . 共44兲
cs ⳵ t
2
⳵t
ជh
1 ⳵E
ជ ⫻␻
ⵜ ជ = ␮hJជ + 2 . 共40a兲
cs ⳵ t This equation shows that the hydroelectric field propagates
with speed of sound in air, and having a source proportional
This represents Ampere’s law in hydrodynamics. Such a re- to the current rate of change. Hence, the hydroelectric field
sult is obtained by Sulaiman and Handoko in their analogy will arise whenever there is any temporal change in the fluid
between electromagnetism and fluid mechanics.10 Now take current. It is not clear here whether this wave nature of the
the time derivative of Eq. 共27兲 and use Eq. 共29兲 to get hydroelectric field is connected with the generation of gravi-
Phys. Essays 24, 2 共2011兲 259

tational wave. However, one may assume that any accelerat- that one can obtain all analogous formulas in gravitation by
ing or nonuniform density distribution of the fluid 共mass兲 invoking the EMH analogy without deriving them.
will induce a hydroelectric field. The detection of such a field
is to be studied elsewhere.
Now, taking the cross product 共from left兲 of both sides of IV. CONCLUDING REMARKS
Eq. 共40a兲 and using Eqs. 共41兲, 共42兲, and 共6兲 the vector iden- We have studied in this paper the consequences of
ជ ⫻ 共ⵜ
tity ⵜ ជ ⫻␻ ជ 共ⵜ
ជ 兲=ⵜ ជ ·␻
ជ 兲 − ⵜ 2␻
ជ , one gets quaternionic Newton’s second law of motion. We have de-
1 ⳵ 2␻ ជ rived the energy conservation equation and Euler equation.
− ⵜ 2␻
ជ = 0. 共45兲 These laws are compatible with the generalized continuity
cs2 ⳵ t2
equations. The basic equations governing the fluid dynamics
This shows that the vorticity vector is a solution of a wave are also derived. We have then shown that the energy mo-
equation traveling at speed of sound in air. It is evident that mentum equation is Lorentz invariant. Moreover, we have
unlike the hydroelectric field the vorticity has no source. It is shown that the pressure contributes equally to the energy
also similar to the evolution of the magnetic field B ជ . Equa- density of the moving fluid as the mass does. Besides, the
tion 共45兲 can also be obtained by taking the curl of Eq. 共43兲. pressure is the source of the hydroelectric scalar field. More-
This equation has a spherically symmetric solution of the over, we have found an intimate analogy between electrody-
form namics and hydrodynamics. With this analogy, we have
found that fluid motion is analogous to charged particle mo-
ជ 共t − r/cs兲
C
␻
ជ 共r,t兲 = , 共46兲 tion. We have obtained Ampere- and Gauss-like laws appli-
r cable to gravitational 共or hydrodynamic兲 system. Moreover,
ជ 共t − r / cs兲 is an arbitrary vector of retarded time t Faraday- and Ampere-like laws and in hydrodynamics are
where C
obtained. In this analogy Euler’s force corresponds to
− r / cs. The retardation r / cs is equal to the time needed for
Lorentz’s force.
the vorticity wave to pass the distance from the source to a
given point in space at a distance r. This exhibits the causal
behavior associated with the wave disturbance. The argu- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ment of C ជ shows that an effect observed at the point r at time
t is caused by the action of the source a distant r away at an I would like to thank F. Amin for stimulating discussion
earlier or retarded time t⬘ = t − r / cs. The time r / cs is the time and the anonymous referees for their useful comments. This
of propagation of the disturbance from the source to the research is supported by the University of Khartoum research
point r. grant.
According to Maxwell’s equations the Poynting vector is 1
A. I. Arbab and Z. A. Satti, Prog. Phys. 2, 8 共2009兲.
given by 2
P. G. Tait, An Elementary Treatise on Quaternions 共Cambridge University
Eជ ⫻ Bជ Press, Cambridge, 1873兲.
Sជ em =
3
, 共47兲 A. I. Arbab and H. M. Widatallah, Chin. Phys. Lett. 27, 084703 共2010兲.
␮0 4
J. A. S. Lima, V. Zanchin, and R. Brandenberger, Mon. Not. R. Astron.
Soc. 291, L1 共1997兲.
so that in hydrodynamics, Eq. 共47兲 will become 5
S. Weinberg, Introduction to Gravitation and Cosmology 共Wiley, New
York, 1972兲.
Eជ h ⫻ ␻
ជ
6
D. F. Lawden, Tensor Calculus and Relativity 共Methuen, London, 1968兲.
Sជ h = . 共48兲 7
H. Kikuchi, Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium, Beijing,
␮h China, 26–30 March 2007, p. 996.
8
I. Merches and T. Onuta, An Analytical Formulation in the Theory of
Using Eq. 共29兲, Eq. 共48兲 yields Gravitomagnetic System 共Analele Sttiintifice Ale Universitaii, Fizica Teo-
Sជ h = 共␳mcs2兲vជ .
retica, 1997兲.
共49兲 9
A. I. Arbab, Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 36, 2465 共2004兲.
10
A. Sulaiman and L. T. Handoko, http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0508092v1.
This is the same as Eq. 共18兲 with Pr = 0. The vanishing of the 11
H. Peng, Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 22, 609 共1990兲.
ជ ␹ = 0. Thus, it is remarkable
pressure is due to the fact that ⵜ 12
H. Peng, Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 15, 725 共1983兲.