Physics Research Assignment

Brandon Bui Physics Research Assignment- Electromagnetic Waves 1. Describe electromagnetic waves Electromagnetic (E.M) waves are transversal waves that have a dual nature which transfer energy over a distance without the need of a medium to propagate. The dual nature of a E.M wave refers to the fact that it both has properties of waves and particles. E.M waves consist of vibrating electric and magnetic fields caused by the vibration of charged particles. These moving charged particles create electric fields surrounding them and as a result of the electric field, a magnetic field is produced that can push, or pull other particles. The movement of the two waves comes from the vibrating charged particles, once the charged particle moves and its magnetic field changes; the changing magnetic field causes the electric field to change. These constantly changing fields cause each other to change producing the overall product of an E.M wave. The electric and magnetic fields propagate against one another in right angles. E.M waves travel through a vacuum at a speed of 3.00 x10 8 m/s. This is known as the speed of light or the constant c. E.M waves can only travel at the speed of c in a vacuum. Through a material medium, E.M waves travel at a speed less t han c because as the E.M waves pass through particles in the medium, the particles absorb some of the waves energy before reemitting it back o ut as a E.M wave but with less energy as it had been absorbed by the particle. This can happen multiple times on an atomic level which can cause all the energy to be absorbed e.g light travelling through the ocean, deep sea contains no light. The speed of E.M waves in a v acuum vary depending on the medium’s density. The more dense the medium the slower the speed o f E.M waves. The fact that E.M waves do not require a medium to travel through is a property that all E.M waves contain. According to the Kinetic Theory of Matter, particles are always in motion causing charged particles to constantly produce an E.M wave. This constant motion of particles cause the electric and magnetic field components of an E.M wave to always propagate against one another making the E.M able to travel through a vacuum since charged particles in space do not stop moving unless at absolute zero. E.M waves are also unlike mechanical waves which require a medium to travel in. Mechanical waves vibrate surrounding particles to propagate through the medium and since E.M waves do not vibrate surrounding particles, it does not require a medium to travel through.

Physics Research Assignment

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