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Maxwell’s most significant contributions lay in his theory of electromagnetism, where he established a unified framework connecting electricity and magnetism. His impressive prowess in mathematics and physics led him to tackle the complexities surrounding electromagnetic phenomena that had perplexed scientists for centuries.
Drawing inspiration from Michael Faraday, Maxwell adopted a new perspective by considering electrical and magnetic fields as fluid-like models. Over more than ten years and multiple papers, he formulated equations that eventually unified the understanding of electricity, magnetism, and light, culminating in the electromagnetic wave theory that would herald the great triumphs of 20th-century physics.