EM Field vs EM Wave: Understanding Distance & Strength Differences

AI Thread Summary
The strength of an electric field decreases with distance from its source due to the dispersion of field lines, while the amplitude and frequency of light remain constant as photons spread out. Although individual photons do not lose energy, their density decreases with distance, leading to fewer interactions with measurement devices. The concept of flux or intensity helps quantify this spreading and relative strength at different distances. This distinction highlights the differences in behavior between electric fields and electromagnetic waves. Understanding these principles is crucial for applications in physics and engineering.
spacebear2000
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Why does the strength of an electrical field diminish with distance from its source whereas the amplitude and frequency of a beam of light do not vary, regardless of distance?
 
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spacebear2000 said:
Why does the strength of an electrical field diminish with distance from its source whereas the amplitude and frequency of a beam of light do not vary, regardless of distance?

Spacebear, one way to think of it is that even though the individual photons may not lose energy, they are more spread out as you move farther from a source - you have fewer and fewer photons interacting with whatever it is you are using to measure the strength.

The flux or intensity can tell you how much spreading out has occurred and how much relative "strength" you have left at any region.
 
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