James Clerk Maxwell formulated a theory of Electromagnetism from dynamic properties of a fluid. According to these calculations, it is possible to identify principles, both physical and mathematical, on which the theory is based. The most important property is the rotational elasticity of the fluid, introduced by James MacCullagh. However the theory left loopholes, the most striking of which are the nature of the electric current and the treatment of conductors. Although we no longer accept the theory, it established categories of the Eletromagnetic science. A byproduct of this paper is the detailing of the calculations and arguments invoked by Maxwell.
James Clerk Maxwell; eletromagnetism; a mechanical model for the ether
