Do Electric and Magnetic Fields Affect Electromagnetic Waves?

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In summary: Faraday first showed that an electric field could produce a magnetic field. This was a very important discovery because it showed that fields could act on other fields.
  • #1
faiz4000
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why do electric and magnetic fields have no effect on an electromagnetic wave?
 
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  • #2
Electric fields exert forces on charges. Magnetic fields exert forces on currents (or moving charges.).

Neither field exerts forces on electric or magnetic fields. This is the classical statement of the linearity of EM fields and to a very large degree it is accurate.
 
  • #3
Is it because the electromagnetic wave has no charge?
 
  • #4
faiz4000 said:
why do electric and magnetic fields have no effect on an electromagnetic wave?

A wave is also a field. A field does not act on another field just like a force does not act on another force. :)
 
  • #5
Hernik said:
Is it because the electromagnetic wave has no charge?

Yes. But there is an exception; some electromagnetic (electroweak) fields can carry charge but these fields are almost never observed directly.
 
  • #6
I think I am not sure I agree.

A field is just a set of numbers at each point in space and time. We think of electric and magnetic fields, but the same formalism can be used elsewhere: in a previous message I described wind as a velocity field. So there is no reason a field cannot act on another field, and there are counterexamples: a changing electric field produces a magnetic field.
 
  • #7
Vanadium 50 said:
So there is no reason a field cannot act on another field, and there are counterexamples: a changing electric field produces a magnetic field.

An electric field cannot act on another electric field. The same holds for other classical force-fields anyway.
 
  • #8
That's true, but the key word is "electric". It's a statement about the kinds of fields, not a statement about fields.
 
  • #9
Vanadium 50 said:
That's true, but the key word is "electric". It's a statement about the kinds of fields, not a statement about fields.

This is correct in the general case.

When photons are involved and we have Maxwell's equations, the charges don't exert forces on the fields only the other charges.

The electroweak fields are different. The W is a charged force carrier. This means the electroweak fields do exert forces on charges, on EM fields, and on itself.
 
  • #10
So an electromagnetic field couldn't say, disturb light, or any other frequency on the EM Spectrum?

Any one force not having an affect on the other is incorrect, look at gravity, it has an affect on electromagnetism.

Michael
 

What is electromagnetic radiation?

Electromagnetic radiation is a type of energy that is present in the form of waves or particles. It includes a wide range of wavelengths, from shorter wavelengths such as gamma rays and X-rays to longer wavelengths such as radio waves and microwaves.

How is electromagnetic radiation produced?

Electromagnetic radiation is produced by the movement of electrically charged particles. This can occur naturally, such as in the form of sunlight or lightning, or it can be produced artificially through processes such as radio waves in communication devices or X-rays in medical imaging.

What are the properties of electromagnetic radiation?

Electromagnetic radiation has several key properties, including wavelength, frequency, and energy. Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs in a wave, while frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point in one second. The energy of electromagnetic radiation is directly proportional to its frequency and inversely proportional to its wavelength.

How does electromagnetic radiation interact with matter?

Electromagnetic radiation can interact with matter in several ways. It can be absorbed, reflected, or transmitted by different materials depending on their properties. For example, X-rays are easily absorbed by dense materials like bones, while radio waves can pass through most objects with little interference.

What are the potential health effects of electromagnetic radiation?

The potential health effects of electromagnetic radiation depend on the type, intensity, and duration of exposure. Some forms of radiation, such as ultraviolet and X-rays, can be harmful to living organisms, while others like visible light and radio waves typically do not pose a significant health risk. Proper shielding and safe handling practices can help minimize potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

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