Electromagnetic Fields and Effects of Oscillation

AI Thread Summary
Electrical circuits in a house operate on alternating current (AC) at a frequency of 60 Hz, which causes electrical charges to oscillate back and forth. This oscillation generates a magnetic field, but it is not static; rather, it is time-varying. The time-varying magnetic field induces an electric field, and conversely, a time-varying electric field induces a magnetic field, leading to the propagation of electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, while the circuits do create magnetic fields, they also radiate electromagnetic waves due to the nature of the oscillating charges. Understanding this interaction is key to grasping how electromagnetic radiation is generated.
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The electrical circuits in a house run on alternating current. This is a current of electrical charges that oscillates back and forth at a frequency of 60 Hz. Do these currents produce magnetic fields? Explain. Do these circuits radiate electromagnetic waves? Why or why not?
I don't have any relevant equations, we are talking about qualitative answers--not quantitative.
My reasoning is this. If electrical charges move back and forth at a frequency of 60Hz then they are in fact 'moving' and would form a magnetic field. Since the magnetic field isn't chanigng however, it therefor wouldn't create an electric field (because they are caused by changing magnetic fields). So, I think I've got the first part of the question down: it does create magnetic fields. But, I'm not sure if the circuits radiate electromagnetic waves. Help me out, please!

EDIT: Grammar
 
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Welcome to PF,

Any time charges accelerate, they radiate. This is common knowledge. But if you want to think about why, then consider that a charge moving back and forth is not a steady current (the velocity of the charge is not constant). Therefore, it doesn't give rise to a static magnetic field, but rather a time-varying one. And a time-varying magnetic field induces an electric field. A time-varying electric field induces a magnetic field. And so on and so forth. This is how EM radiation maintains itself and propagates.
 
Thank you very much, this makes sense :)
 
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