Are Electric and Magnetic Fields Always Perpendicular?

Thread starter janrain
Start date Jan 24, 2004
Tags

Electric Fields Magnetic Magnetic fields

AI Thread Summary

The equation Curl E = - (partial derivative of B with respect to t) does not imply that electric field E and magnetic field B are always perpendicular. The discussion clarifies that while E and B can be perpendicular, this is not a universal condition. The relationship is confirmed by the expression \vec E \cdot \vec B = 0, indicating that the two fields are at 90 degrees to each other under certain conditions. However, this does not hold true in all scenarios, particularly when considering time-dependent fields. Thus, E and B are not necessarily always perpendicular.

Jan 24, 2004

janrain

Does the following equation mean that electric field E and magnetic field B are always perpendicular??
the equation is:
Curl E = - (partial derivative of B with respect to t)
where E is time dependent too.

Physics news on Phys.org

Jan 24, 2004

nbo10

The simple answer is, No.

JMD

Jan 24, 2004

janrain

right...thank you

Jan 24, 2004

nbo10

\vec E \cdot \vec B = 0

say's E & B are 90 degrees to each other.

JMD

Thread 'I've come across another fluid pressure problem I don't understand'

Neglect gravity other than that of water; neglect friction. F1=ρgsh=1000*10*1*(1+4)=50000 N; F1=ρgsh=1000*10*0.1*4=4000 N; F3=50000-4000=46000 N?

View full post »

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...

View full post »

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...

View full post »