How Are Electric Forces Related to Electromagnetic Waves?

[TheTankEngine]

Ive heard it said that electricity and megnetism are brought about by electromagnetic waves, but arent electric forces the cause of the other 2?

 

[LostConjugate]

Electricity and magnetism are brought about by the electrostatic force. The electromagnetic wave is a permutation in the electrostatic force.

 

[TheTankEngine]

the wave is caused by alternating motion of charged particles because light, or the electrostatic force, has a speed limit, right?

 

[LostConjugate]

the wave is caused by alternating motion of charged particles because light, or the electrostatic force, has a speed limit, right?

Not because light has a speed limit. The wave is the oscillatory perpendicular motion of the electron.

If the electron is pushing on another electron and it starts to move perpendicular to the force so does the other electron. You can test this by pushing a book across your table, and at the same time move your hand perpendicular to the direction of force, the book will move perpendicular as well.

So since an electron exerts a force on all other charged particles, if it moves up and down perpendicular to the direction of force, so do all other charged particles.

Electrons are in a potential when they are part of an atom, so oscillatory motion is common which creates a wave in the force field.

 

[TheTankEngine]

thanks, i think this is the last one:
how does this oscillation of an electrostatic field interact with particles? ex. infrared rays heating things

 

[TheTankEngine]

i also don't get why an electromagnetic wave is considered electric and magnetic forces oscilating perpindicular to each other.
by the way, can you tell me where you learned and where i might learn online?

 

[TheTankEngine]

here, the best thing you can do for me is to tell me what the theory is called, the way you explain it, thanks!

 

[LostConjugate]

i also don't get why an electromagnetic wave is considered electric and magnetic forces oscilating perpindicular to each other.
by the way, can you tell me where you learned and where i might learn online?

The magnetic force is only a relativistic correction to the electrostatic force, in other words it is the same field. It is a bit complicated to explain why it appears to be a different field without taking special relativity first though.

I recommend you start here:

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/physics/8-02-electricity-and-magnetism-spring-2002/video-lectures/