Understanding Electromagnetic Waves

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SUMMARY

Electromagnetic (EM) waves, including light, propagate through space as oscillations of electric and magnetic fields that are mutually perpendicular. The discussion emphasizes that light can travel through a vacuum, suggesting that electric and magnetic fields are present throughout the universe. It concludes that the existence of light does not necessitate the presence of static electric and magnetic fields in a vacuum, as these fields are intrinsic to the nature of EM waves themselves.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic theory
  • Familiarity with Maxwell's equations
  • Knowledge of wave-particle duality
  • Basic concepts of vacuum physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Maxwell's equations in detail
  • Explore the concept of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics
  • Research the properties of vacuum and its implications for EM wave propagation
  • Investigate the relationship between electric and magnetic fields in EM waves
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators in electromagnetism, and anyone interested in the fundamental principles of light and electromagnetic wave behavior.

Ian Baughman
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So I know that EM waves travel perpendicular to the electric and magnetic fields which are also perpendicular to each other. What I'm having difficulty understanding is since light is an EM wave and can travel through the vacuum of space, does that imply that everywhere in the universe there is an electric and magnetic field? It would seem, according to this, if we could find a vacuum where no such fields existed then light would not be able to travel through it.
 
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If the fields are zero before light travels through it it does not imply that the fields are zero when light is traveling through it.

The road outside my house has no cars on it at the moment, but that doesn't mean cars can't drive down it.
 
Ian Baughman said:
So I know that EM waves travel perpendicular to the electric and magnetic fields which are also perpendicular to each other. What I'm having difficulty understanding is since light is an EM wave and can travel through the vacuum of space, does that imply that everywhere in the universe there is an electric and magnetic field? It would seem, according to this, if we could find a vacuum where no such fields existed then light would not be able to travel through it.

Light (the EM wave) is the electric and magnetic fields!
 

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