- #1
Agustin.R
- 2
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I'm having some trouble understanding visually the propagation of an electromagnetic wave. I'm self-studying electrodynamics so I've never had someone explain this properly to me.
I understand an electromagnetic wave is a propagating disturbance in an electromagnetic field. Originally, I thought this is a change in the radiating particle's field, so I was puzzled why wouldn't the wave fall off like r^2 like the electric field does. So I'm thinking that the electromagnetic wave is a separate, self-propagating electromagnetic field, distinct from the particle's field (or at least the field at the retarded time in which the particle radiated). Is this the meaning of "a changing electric field generating a magnetic field, and a changing magnetic field generating an electric one"?
Additionally, I don't understand what is the "Eo" value in the wave equation for a monochromatic plane wave. I know this is the amplitude, but I don't understand how I would calculate it.
Finally, most books I see have only a treatment of plane waves. Could anyone recommend me a book with a good treatment of spherical ones?
Thank you in advance for your help.
I understand an electromagnetic wave is a propagating disturbance in an electromagnetic field. Originally, I thought this is a change in the radiating particle's field, so I was puzzled why wouldn't the wave fall off like r^2 like the electric field does. So I'm thinking that the electromagnetic wave is a separate, self-propagating electromagnetic field, distinct from the particle's field (or at least the field at the retarded time in which the particle radiated). Is this the meaning of "a changing electric field generating a magnetic field, and a changing magnetic field generating an electric one"?
Additionally, I don't understand what is the "Eo" value in the wave equation for a monochromatic plane wave. I know this is the amplitude, but I don't understand how I would calculate it.
Finally, most books I see have only a treatment of plane waves. Could anyone recommend me a book with a good treatment of spherical ones?
Thank you in advance for your help.