Electric field without charge?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around the concept of electromagnetic (EM) waves propagating through a vacuum without the presence of charge in the medium. Participants debate whether a static charge can produce an electric field that extends over large distances, referencing the inverse square law and its implications. One user expresses skepticism about how a single moving charge can influence areas thousands of kilometers away, while others emphasize that EM fields can exist independently of local charges. The conversation highlights the relationship between electric and magnetic fields in the context of moving charges and the propagation of EM waves. Ultimately, the discussion underscores the importance of understanding electromagnetic theory and experimental evidence in addressing these questions.
mdn
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hi all,
this question arises in my mind because, electromagnetic wave travel even in vacuum and we says that electromagnetic wave associated with electric field and magnetic field. now the questions is where is charge in medium, to say electric field?
 
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mdn said:
hi all,
this question arises in my mind because, electromagnetic wave travel even in vacuum and we says that electromagnetic wave associated with electric field and magnetic field. now the questions is where is charge in medium, to say electric field?

I wiggle some charge at position r=0. At r=20 km, you detect the EM field from it. Where is the charge?

This is not a trick question.

Zz.
 
you hide that charge as well as electric field, how can i detect ?.
 
mdn said:
you hide that charge as well as electric field, how can i detect ?.
No one is hiding anything.
 
It means only one person has eyes and all others blind!
 
mdn said:
It means only one person has eyes and all others blind!

I have no idea what is going on here. You do know that you can detect EM radiation such as radio waves using an antenna, don't you? So what is hiding here?

You seem to thing that a region of space must locally have charge for there to be EM field. I'm trying to show you that that is false by demonstrating something which you already know and USE! Nothing is being hidden here!

Zz.
 
Dear ZapperZ,
Thanks for your reply and bearing my such stupid question, but still i can,t believe how single wiggling charge (off course very large) spread it own information( in the form of EM wave) up to thousands of kilometre, without aids of medium.
 
mdn said:
I can't believe how single wiggling charge (of course very large) spread it own information( in the form of EM wave) up to thousands of kilometre, without aids of medium.

Ignore the wiggling for a moment... Do you agree that if the charge were not moving it would be able to spread its static electrical field through space? Now, what happens to that field if you do move the charge?
 
Nugatory said:
Ignore the wiggling for a moment... Do you agree that if the charge were not moving it would be able to spread its static electrical field through space? Now, what happens to that field if you do move the charge?
No! that's why in initiated such classical question. Inverse square law doesn't permit such lines of force to go large distance for example Van de Graaff generator, how long you feel the influence of such large charge in the form of lines of force.
and i believe due to movement of charge magnetic field has to play great role for spreading disturbances.
 
  • #10
mdn said:
Inverse square law doesn't permit such lines of force to go large distance for example Van de Graaff generator

The inverse square law goes "hand in hand" with the lines of force extending straight outwards from the source to infinity. One is commonly used to derive the other in simple introductory presentations of electrostatics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse-square_law (note especially the diagram at the top of the page)
 
  • #11
mdn said:
Dear ZapperZ,
Thanks for your reply and bearing my such stupid question, but still i can,t believe how single wiggling charge (off course very large) spread it own information( in the form of EM wave) up to thousands of kilometre, without aids of medium.

mdn said:
No! that's why in initiated such classical question. Inverse square law doesn't permit such lines of force to go large distance for example Van de Graaff generator, how long you feel the influence of such large charge in the form of lines of force.
and i believe due to movement of charge magnetic field has to play great role for spreading disturbances.

This is puzzling. What is it that you "can't believe" here? What are you using as your "belief"? Don't Maxwell equations and experimental evidence trump your belief?

Zz.
 
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