Did James Clerk Maxwell Ever Draw a Picture of an Electromagnetic Wave?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

James Clerk Maxwell did not create a visual representation of electromagnetic waves in his notebooks. The first known depiction of perpendicular sinusoidal electric and magnetic waves is attributed to Heinrich Hertz in the 1880s. Oliver Heaviside, known for his contributions to vector calculus and the formulation of Maxwell's laws, is also mentioned in the discussion, although he did not draw the first picture. The quest for the earliest illustration of electromagnetic waves continues to intrigue researchers and enthusiasts alike.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic wave theory
  • Familiarity with the historical context of physics in the 19th century
  • Knowledge of vector calculus and its application in physics
  • Basic comprehension of Maxwell's equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research Heinrich Hertz's experiments and their significance in electromagnetic theory
  • Study Oliver Heaviside's contributions to vector calculus and electromagnetism
  • Explore the historical development of electromagnetic wave theory
  • Investigate visual representations of electromagnetic waves in scientific literature
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, historians of science, educators, and students interested in the development of electromagnetic theory and its visual representations.

RelativeQuant
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Did James Clerk Maxwell Ever Draw a Picture of an Electromagnetic Wave in any of his notebooks?

Who was the first one to draw one? Would love to find the first picture representing it all!

I am looking for the first example of a drawing looking like this showing the perpendicular sinusoidal E & M waves of a propagating photon:

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/electromagnetic/electromagneticjavafigure1.jpg

https://www.google.com/search?q=ele...niv&sa=X&ei=kmdeVNJg0M-IAtrEgJAH&ved=0CDgQsAQ

Thanks!

Who was the first one to draw one? Would love to find the first picture representing it!

Or at least an early one.

:)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It was probably Heinrich Hertz in the 1880's.
 
Thanks! Does anyone else have any ideas regarding this? Thanks! :)
 
My vote is Oliver heaverstead who made vector calculus and made maxwell's laws into what they are today. But don't have proof.
 
Cool4Kat said:
Oliver heaverstead

I think you mean Oliver Heaviside.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Cool4Kat
Vanadium 50 said:
I think you mean Oliver Heaviside.
I think you are right. Sorry about that!