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My book takes a look at the maxwell equations in free space, shows that E and B satisfies the wave equation and then guesses on a plane wave as a solution such that you get a tranverse wave with E and B perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
I don't know if I am too slow in realizing things, but to me the above is pretty weird. What does this electromagnetic wave derived represent?
And why was it allowed to take for granted that it must be a plane wave. Who says electromagnetic waves are not spherical or has some other weird shape? After all there is considerable freedom in the structure of the wave, if you just know that the electromagnetic fields satisfy the wave equation.
And furthermore, what is it that actually produce these electromagnetic waves? I can see that the essence of them is somehow that the E and B fields sustain each other, but overall I am clueless as to what produces them. If you have an electrostatic situation, is there electromagnetic waves there? I think not, but why not? Surely the E and B fields are always a solution to the wave equation.
Phew, that was a lot of questions.. :)
I don't know if I am too slow in realizing things, but to me the above is pretty weird. What does this electromagnetic wave derived represent?
And why was it allowed to take for granted that it must be a plane wave. Who says electromagnetic waves are not spherical or has some other weird shape? After all there is considerable freedom in the structure of the wave, if you just know that the electromagnetic fields satisfy the wave equation.
And furthermore, what is it that actually produce these electromagnetic waves? I can see that the essence of them is somehow that the E and B fields sustain each other, but overall I am clueless as to what produces them. If you have an electrostatic situation, is there electromagnetic waves there? I think not, but why not? Surely the E and B fields are always a solution to the wave equation.
Phew, that was a lot of questions.. :)
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