Symmetry, Uniqueness, and the Coulomb Law of Force

Abstract

Some arguments from symmetry, frequently occurring in elementary electricity, are criticized, and the importance of the uniqueness theorem in electrostatics is stressed. It is conjectured that for a 1/rn law of force a uniqueness theorem only holds in the case n = 2. The problem is posed of finding a solution to any electrostatic problem whatsoever (involving conductors) if the law of force is not the Coulomb law.