- #1
taylaron
Gold Member
- 397
- 1
To my understanding, photons are the medium in which electromagnetic radiation is transmitted. These photons follow a sine wave with different wavelengths etc... according to its position on the EM spectrum at the speed of light.
note* -with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
so my question: why does a photon follow a sine wave opposed to having a linear path or following any other defined path e.g. a spiral pattern?
When you separate the 2 components of a sine wave, you have the z axis (direction the wave propagates at) and in this case the x axis. the photon follows the z axis at a constant velocity (speed of light). of course. but the x-axis is where I am confused. the pattern is up, down, up down etc... But what is keeping the photon from just going 'up' or just 'down'?.
why doesn't it move in all 3 axis (in this simulation) where the x and y-axis are oscillating, forming a spiral pattern? Of course there are endless patterns that could be applied. in that case, who says it has to be repetitious?
Thanks-
Tay
note* -with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
so my question: why does a photon follow a sine wave opposed to having a linear path or following any other defined path e.g. a spiral pattern?
When you separate the 2 components of a sine wave, you have the z axis (direction the wave propagates at) and in this case the x axis. the photon follows the z axis at a constant velocity (speed of light). of course. but the x-axis is where I am confused. the pattern is up, down, up down etc... But what is keeping the photon from just going 'up' or just 'down'?.
why doesn't it move in all 3 axis (in this simulation) where the x and y-axis are oscillating, forming a spiral pattern? Of course there are endless patterns that could be applied. in that case, who says it has to be repetitious?
Thanks-
Tay