How is the electromagnetic field different from aether?

In summary, the electromagnetic field differs from aether in that it does not require a medium to travel through and there are many separate fields that can overlap and interact instead of one single field permeating all space. This is similar to how sound differs from air and ocean waves differ from water, with one being the wave phenomenon and the other being the medium.
  • #1
quantumfireball
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How is the electromagnetic field different from aether?
if there is an em field why is it not considered to be at absolute rest
 
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  • #2
The aether was hypothesized to evenly permeate all space, providing a reference frame and medium for EM fields to travel through. EM fields require no such medium (to our knowledge).
There are many EM fields, and its hard to say if they are "moving" or at rest, you can say that some are constant (unchanging) and others are dynamic (changing) - which could be interpreted as they are moving.
There is no, one-EM field that permeates all space; instead there are a myriad separate fields that can overlap, interact, etc. (although they technically each extend to infinity unless blocked).
 
  • #3
quantumfireball said:
How is the electromagnetic field different from aether?
How is a sound different from the air? How is an ocean wave different from the water?

One is the wave phenomenon, the other is the medium through which the wave propagates.
 

1. What is the electromagnetic field?

The electromagnetic field is a physical field that is created by electrically charged particles. It is made up of electric and magnetic components, and it is responsible for electromagnetic radiation, such as light and radio waves.

2. What is aether?

Aether, also known as luminiferous ether, was a concept proposed in the 19th century to explain the propagation of light through space. It was believed to be a medium that filled all of space and allowed for the transmission of electromagnetic waves.

3. How is the electromagnetic field different from aether?

The main difference between the electromagnetic field and aether is that the electromagnetic field is a physical field that can be measured and observed, while aether was a hypothetical concept that has been disproven by scientific experiments.

4. What evidence supports the existence of the electromagnetic field?

There is a vast amount of evidence that supports the existence of the electromagnetic field. This includes experiments such as the Faraday cage experiment, which demonstrates the shielding effect of the field, and the double-slit experiment, which shows the wave-like behavior of electromagnetic radiation.

5. Why was the concept of aether eventually abandoned?

The concept of aether was eventually abandoned because it could not adequately explain the properties of light and other electromagnetic phenomena. As more experiments were conducted and more evidence was gathered, it became clear that the electromagnetic field was a more accurate and comprehensive explanation for these phenomena.

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