PHYS 102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 22: Electromagnetic Radiation, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Electric Field
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PHYS 102 Full Course Notes
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Changing electric fields produce magnetic fields; maxwell"s equations. James clerk maxwell synthesized an elegant theory in which all electric and magnetic phenomena could be described using four equations, now called maxwell"s equations. They are based on earlier ideas, but maxwell added one more: that a changing electric field produces a magnetic field. Maxwell"s theory predicted that transverse electromagnetic (em) waves would be produced by accelerating electric charges, and these waves would propagate (move) through space at the speed of light, given by the formula: Light as an electromagnetic wave and the electromagnetic spectrum. The oscillating electric and magnetic fields in an em wave are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of propagation. These waves are waves of fields, not mater, and can propagate in empty space. The wavelength (cid:2019) and frequency (cid:1858) of em waves are related to their speed by:
