Electromagnetic waves are chargeless?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of electromagnetic (EM) waves, specifically addressing the question of whether they are chargeless despite being produced by accelerated charges. Participants explore the relationship between charge and EM waves, considering theoretical implications and analogies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that electromagnetic waves are produced by accelerated charges but questions how they can be chargeless.
  • Another participant challenges the necessity of the "but," suggesting that different concepts can coexist without contradiction.
  • A third participant proposes that EM waves are simply energy and thus are chargeless, referencing the Lorentz transformation of a moving charged particle.
  • Another participant argues that while charge is the source of EM waves, the waves themselves do not retain the charge once they are propagating, using sound waves as an analogy.
  • A later reply expresses understanding of the previous points made in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple viewpoints regarding the relationship between charge and EM waves, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with competing perspectives on the nature of EM waves.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the definitions of charge and energy in the context of EM waves are not explicitly stated, which may affect interpretations of the discussion.

logearav
Messages
329
Reaction score
0
electromagnetic waves are created or produced by accelerated charge. but EM WAVES are chargeless? how is it? please clarify folks... thanks in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Why should there be a "but" in your post? Why shouldn't two different things just be different?
 
Hi,
In EM waves are just energy, So chargeless. [Lorentz transformation of a moving charged particle]
PS: EM waves contains only the fields (electric and magnetic).
 
The charge is simply the source of the EM wave. Once the wave is propagating, why should it still have the charge?

Let me put it another way:
Sound waves are created by vocal cords, but sound waves don't have vocal cords.
 
thanks a lot mr.comos. i understood it fully.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 65 ·
3
Replies
65
Views
6K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
22K