- #36
granpa
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the question of what is actually oscillating is moot. it follows all the same laws. that is all that really matters.
Okey, if we on the border to philosophy, then I think I'm satisfied with my understanding so far. Maybe what disturbs me is how to interpret the word "transverse waves". Longitudinal and transverse should be reserved for positional displacement, as we talked about here. Since no displacement occurs for EM waves, that kind of waves ought not to be called that. They are more like continuous pulses of some sort. But I don't know the exact definition of the word transverse really.jtbell said:I think most physicists take the view that E- and B- fields are "real" in some sense, and exist independently of the real or imaginary test charges that we use for observing them. It's also possible to take the view that the fields are merely mathematical devices for simplifying the calculation of what is ultimately a complicated "action at a distance" of some kind. It's impossible to distinguish between these two interpretations experimentally, so the choice is a matter of personal preference and philosophy, and depends on exactly what one means by "real." People can and do debate such things endlessly. I get bored with it pretty quickly, myself.
jtbell said:If you have problems like this with the classical electromagnetic field, just wait until you get to quantum mechanics! In the Quantum Physics forum, people go at each other with hammer and tongs over questions of interpretation.
Hm... Need to think about that. I thought we were talking about field strength here at different points on the x-axis. Photons are too advanced for me to understand by now, I leave that for now, probably come back to that later...granpa said:the FIELD of a single photon extends 1/2 wavelength to the side. that's not the same as saying that the displacement is 1/2 wavelength.
Interesting!mal4mac said:Check the first section of:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_(physics))
To get some not-too-philosophical stuff on the reality of the field (quotes from Wheeler and Feynman!)
the FIELD of a single photon extends 1/2 wavelength to the side.
Phrak said:ganpa,
That's not actually true, I am afraid, but your references to shear waves in solid media,were well taken.