Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge / 2010 / Paper 1 / Section B / B6 / a / Solution

displacement current completes Ampère's law:In vacuum $\mathbf{D}={ϵ}_0\mathbf{E}$. Taking the divergence and using $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{D}={\rho }_{\mathrm{free}}$ gives $\nabla \cdot {\mathbf{J}}_{\mathrm{free}}+{\partial }_t{\rho }_{\mathrm{free}}=0$, exactly the continuity equation. Without the added term a time-dependent charge distribution would contradict the curl equation.

A charging parallel-plate capacitor illustrates the physics. For plate area $A$, $Q={ϵ}_{0}AE$, so the gap displacement current is $I_d={ϵ}_{0}A\dot{E}=\dot{Q}$, equal to the conduction current in its leads. An Ampère contour therefore gives the same magnetic circulation whether its spanning surface crosses the wire or the gap. No electrons have to cross an ideal vacuum gap. In matter, ${\partial }_t\mathbf{D}$ includes the polarization response as well as the vacuum term. Combined with Faraday induction, the displacement term permits source-free electromagnetic waves.