How Do Electric and Magnetic Fields Oscillate in Light?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the oscillation of electric and magnetic fields in light, specifically addressing the mechanisms behind these oscillations and the nature of electric fields associated with immobile charges. Participants explore concepts related to electromagnetic waves, the behavior of charges, and the implications of classical and quantum mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that in electromagnetic waves, the electric field and magnetic field oscillate such that when one is at a maximum, the other is at a minimum, raising questions about the mechanism behind this oscillation.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that the relationship between changing electric and magnetic fields is simply a law of electromagnetism, without providing a deeper explanation.
  • A different participant challenges the initial claim about the oscillation of fields, stating that the electric and magnetic fields are actually in-phase, both reaching their maximum and minimum simultaneously.
  • Questions are raised about immobile charges and whether electrons, which are never truly immobile within atoms, always have an associated electromagnetic field, and if they transmit electromagnetic waves due to their immobility.
  • Participants inquire about the mechanisms that cause the oscillation of electric and magnetic fields, with one mentioning Maxwell's equations as a potential explanation.
  • A suggestion is made to refer to a video by Feynman that may provide additional insights into the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is disagreement regarding the relationship between the electric and magnetic fields in electromagnetic waves, with some participants asserting they are out of phase while others claim they are in phase. The discussion on immobile charges and their electromagnetic fields remains unresolved, with differing views on the nature of electrons within atoms.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the mechanisms of oscillation and the implications of classical versus quantum mechanics, indicating a need for further exploration of these concepts.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, or anyone seeking to understand the fundamental principles of electric and magnetic fields in light.

firavia
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In the case of "Light" when it is considerd as an electromagnetic wave , this wave consist of an electric field and magnetic field oscillating all the time when the electric field is maximum the magnetic field is minimum and vice versa , my question is : what is the mechanism that create such oscillation and trasformation of electric field into magnetic field ??

my 2nd question is : an immobile charge is known to have only an electric field , can u give me an example about an immobile charge ? , electron are never immobile iside an atome am I right ? so they do always have an electromagnetic field or we can't suppose that because the charge of an electron is canceled by the charge of the proton ? ,and if not does an electron transmit electromagentic wave all the time , because of its immobility ?
can you please help giving me a descent easy book that explain such things , a book for dummies with minimum mathematical equation and lots of physical explanations .
Thank you.
 
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Well the answer to your first question is because Mr. Ampere said so :-p. I can't give you an explanation as so why a changing E-field creates a changing B-field, other than to say it is simply one of the laws of electromagnetism. Maybe someone else on here knows about the subject more deeply.
 
firavia said:
In the case of "Light" when it is considerd as an electromagnetic wave , this wave consist of an electric field and magnetic field oscillating all the time when the electric field is maximum the magnetic field is minimum and vice versa
This is not correct. The E- and B-field are in-phase. They are both maximum at the same time and zero at the same time.

firavia said:
my 2nd question is : an immobile charge is known to have only an electric field , can u give me an example about an immobile charge ? , electron are never immobile iside an atome am I right ? so they do always have an electromagnetic field or we have not tosay that because the charge of an electron is canceled by the charge of the proton ? ,and if not does an electron transmit electromagentic wave all the time , because of its immobility ?
can you please help giving me a descent easy book that explain such things , a book for dummies with minimum mathematical equation and lots of physical explanations.
This is one of the basic results that cannot be explained using classical mechanics and led to the development of quantum mechanics. I don't know a good easy reference for quantum mechanics, but I am sure that someone here will know one.
 
Why both fields oscillate ? what is the mechanism that oscillate them ??
 
firavia said:
Why both fields oscillate ? what is the mechanism that oscillate them ??
Maxwell's equations describe the oscillation. Have you studied Maxwell's equations?
 

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