André-Marie Ampère (1775-1836) was a French physicist and mathematician who is best known for his contributions to the study of electromagnetism. He is one of the founding figures in the field, and his work led to the formulation of Ampère's Law, which describes the relationship between electric currents and the magnetic fields they produce. In addition to his work in electromagnetism, Ampère made significant contributions to other areas of science, including mathematics and chemistry.
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André-Marie Ampère investigated the mutual mechanical action of electric currents. Parallel currents in the same direction attract, while reversing one reverses the force; changing the circuit geometry provides further tests. James Clerk Maxwell's contemporary account distinguishes Ampère's experimental facts from the assumption used to model the interaction between individual current elements. The contribution therefore links an observable force between complete electrical circuits with a mathematical description of the interaction, rather than identifying the model's smallest parts directly with separately measured forces.[ref]
A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism by James Clerk Maxwell. Volume II, Part IV, Chapter II, sections 502 onward, experimental facts and current-element assumptions
