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For fields ${\Phi }_a$ with a first-derivative Lagrangian density, suppose an infinitesimal global transformation at fixed coordinates is $\delta {\Phi }_a=\alpha {\Delta }_a$ and $\delta \mathcal{L}=\alpha {\partial }_{\mu }{K}^{\mu }$, with constant infinitesimal $\alpha$. Noether theorem gives the on shell conserved currentThis follows by varying the Lagrangian, integrating the terms with ${\partial }_{\mu }{\Delta }_a$ by parts, and setting the Euler-Lagrange expressions to zero. If spatial boundary flux vanishes, $\int d^{3}x{J}^0$ is a conserved Noether charge. Spacetime symmetries are covered by including the induced field variation at fixed coordinates and the corresponding total derivative $K^{\mu }$.

An example of a theory with a Lorentz four-vector is the source-free Maxwell field with electromagnetic four-potential $A_{\mu }$. Under an Abelian gauge transformation,The change in $F_{\mu \nu }$ is ${\partial }_{\mu }{\partial }_{\nu }\chi -{\partial }_{\nu }{\partial }_{\mu }\chi =0$, so the Maxwell Lagrangian is gauge-invariant. For $A_{\mu }=(\Phi ,-\mathbf{A})$ define $E_i=F_{0i}$ and $F_{ij}=-{ϵ}_{ijk}{B}_k$. With signature $+---$,The minus sign in $-F^2/4$ gives the positive electric kinetic term and positive physical field energy; reversing it would reverse the Hamiltonian's sign for the physical modes. The normalization $1/4$ accounts for antisymmetry and yields the conventional equations. Varying $A_{\nu }$ gives ${\partial }_{\mu }{F}^{\mu \nu }=0$.

For time translation at fixed coordinates take ${\Delta }_{\nu }={\partial }_0{A}_{\nu }$. Since $\alpha$ is constant, $\delta F_{\mu \nu }=\alpha {\partial }_0{F}_{\mu \nu }$, and hence $\delta \mathcal{L}=\alpha {\partial }_0\mathcal{L}$. Thus $K^{\mu }={\delta }^{\mu }{}_0\mathcal{L}$. The momentum derivative isNoether theorem therefore gives the canonical stress-energy tensor's time-translation currentHere ${\dot{A}}_i=E_i+{\partial }_i{A}_0$ was used. The canonical momentum of $A_0$ vanishes, while that of the lower spatial component $A_i$ is $E_i$: $A_0$ acts as a multiplier for Gauss law, not a propagating degree of freedom. The density above is not manifestly gauge-invariant, but its charge agrees with the physical energy on the constraint surface and with appropriate boundary conditions.

The gauge-covariant time translation instead has ${\Delta }_{\nu }={\partial }_0{A}_{\nu }-{\partial }_{\nu }{A}_0=F_{0\nu }$. It is time translation combined with a gauge transformation of parameter $\chi =-\alpha A_0$. Directly,using the definition of $F$, equivalently its Bianchi identity. The total derivative in $\delta \mathcal{L}$ is unchanged. The improved current isIt is the gauge-invariant Maxwell stress-energy tensor. In particular,The spatial current is the Poynting vector $\mathbf{E}\times \mathbf{B}$, so conservation gives ${\partial }_{t}u+\nabla \cdot (\mathbf{E}\times \mathbf{B})=0$. This is the familiar positive local electromagnetic field energy density, expressed entirely in measurable fields.

To compare the currents,The last term vanishes on the source-free Maxwell equations, leaving a stress-energy tensor improvement generated by a stress-energy superpotential. At the charge level,when the surface term vanishes and Gauss law holds. Thus the symmetries yield the same conserved energy under these conditions while the second supplies a gauge-invariant local density. Boundary terms would have to be retained if those boundary conditions were not imposed.

For a conductor in electrostatic equilibrium, the interior field is zero and the surface is equipotential. The tangential exterior field is zero. A thin Gaussian pillbox gives the normal jump $E_{\mathrm{out}}\cdot \mathbf{n}-E_{\mathrm{in}}\cdot \mathbf{n}=\sigma /{ϵ}_0$. Thus, in vacuum and with $\mathbf{n}$ pointing out of the conductor,These are the electrostatic boundary conditions at a conductor.

To obtain electrostatic energy in field form, integrate over the space outside the conductors, cutting it off first at a large sphere. From the Maxwell equations, $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{E}=\rho /{ϵ}_0$ and $\mathbf{E}=-\nabla \varphi$, soOn a conductor boundary, the outward normal of the integration region points into the conductor, so its flux contribution is $-{\varphi }_i{Q}_i/{ϵ}_0$. At the remote outer boundary the flux integral tends to zero: for a localized charge distribution, $\varphi =O(1/r)$ and $\mathbf{E}=O(1/r^2)$. The divergence theorem therefore givesSince the field vanishes inside conductors,The field integral is over all space, although the charges occupy a finite volume. For a finite outer integration boundary there is additionally the term $({ϵ}_0/2)\oint \varphi \mathbf{E}\cdot d\mathbf{S}$.

For the electrostatic energy of alternating-charge concentric shells, the total enclosed charge after shell $n$ isBy spherical symmetry and Gauss's law, the field is zero for $r<r_1$, and in every subsequent gap, including outside the last shell,Although its direction alternates, its squared magnitude is the same in every gap. ConsequentlyThe coefficient of $1/r_1$ is $q^2/(8\pi {ϵ}_0)$, independent of the other radii and of the number of shells.

Use compatible orientations for the loop and spanning surface. The relevant Maxwell equations areThe magnetic flux transport for a moving circuit separates the change of the field from the motion of its boundary. To see the boundary term, freeze $\mathbf{B}$ at time $t$. Orient the closed swept surface as $S(t+\delta t)-S(t)+S^{\prime }$. Its side element isto first order. Hence its flux is $-\delta t{\oint }_C\mathbf{B}\cdot (\mathbf{v}\times d\mathbf{r})$. By the divergence theorem and $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B}=0$, the sum of the three fluxes is zero, giving the purely geometric changeAdding the temporal field change and applying Stokes theorem yieldsThusThe boundary contribution is the motional electromotive force; the field contribution is Faraday's law.

Differentiate the electromagnetic stress-energy tensor. The current term isThe other two terms cancel by the homogeneous Maxwell equations. To see the contraction explicitly, multiply ${\partial }_{\mu }{F}_{\beta \alpha }+{\partial }_{\beta }{F}_{\alpha \mu }+{\partial }_{\alpha }{F}_{\mu \beta }=0$ by $F^{\mu \alpha }$. The first and third contracted terms are equal after swapping indices and using antisymmetry; the middle is $-\frac{1}{2}{\partial }_{\beta }(F^{\mu \alpha }{F}_{\mu \alpha })$. ThereforeIt cancels differentiation of the trace term, leavingThe sign is tied to the printed convention ${\partial }_{\mu }{F}^{\mu \nu }=-{\mu }_0{J}^{\nu }$ and the displayed field-strength tensor.

In electrostatics, the relevant Maxwell equations reduce to $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{E}=\rho /{\epsilon }_0$ and $\nabla \times \mathbf{E}=0$. For a volume $V$ with outward unit normal $\mathbf{n}$, integrate the first equation and apply the divergence theorem:This is the integral form of Gauss's law, with $Q_V$ the enclosed electric charge. The zero curl is the accompanying condition allowing an electrostatic potential locally, and globally when the domain permits one.

Use SI units and the Minkowski metric $\eta =\mathrm{diag}(1,-1,-1,-1)$. Write $x^{\mu }=(ct,x,y,z)$, ${\partial }_{\mu }=(c^{-1}{\partial }_t,\nabla )$ and the four-current $J^{\mu }=(c\rho ,\mathbf{J})$, with Greek indices from $0$ to $3$. The electromagnetic field tensor is the antisymmetric tensor whose components areIndices are raised and lowered with $\eta$. Define the dual electromagnetic field tensor by ${\tilde{F}}^{\mu \nu }=\frac{1}{2}{ϵ}^{\mu \nu \rho \sigma }{F}_{\rho \sigma }$, with ${ϵ}^{0123}=+1$. Then the covariant Maxwell equations areHere $\rho$ and $\mathbf{J}$ are charge and current density, ${\mu }_0$ is the vacuum magnetic permeability, and ${ϵ}_0{\mu }_0{c}^2=1$. For example the $\nu =0$ equation gives $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{E}=\rho /{ϵ}_0$, and the spatial equations give $\nabla \times \mathbf{B}-c^{-2}{\partial }_t\mathbf{E}={\mu }_0\mathbf{J}$. With the stated dual convention, ${\tilde{F}}^{0i}=-B_i$ and ${\tilde{F}}^{ij}={ϵ}_{ijk}{E}_k/c$; the second tensor equation gives the two homogeneous Maxwell equations.