Electromagnetic wave emission after source vanishes

[PeteyCoco]

I'm reading about electromagnetic waves and I can't make sense of their self-sustaining nature. If a charge accelerates for a moment and then stops a disturbance in the electric field is sent out. This changing electric field creates a changing magnetic field and they continue to sustain each other, propagating infinitely outward. Now, if the source charge were to vanish there would still be a changing E/B field in its immediate vicinity which will continue to exist. Wouldn't this mean that the waves are emitted forever?

 

[PeteyCoco]

Nevermind. Stupid question.

 

[davenn]

no, not a stupid question

Yes the EM wave continues to propagate outwards after the source stops emitting

not really too different than if you throw a pebble into a pond, the initially generated waves will still radiate outwards, even tho new waves are not being created at the source

Dave