physics Flashcards
require the presence of a medium
em waves
Can propagate through empty space
electromagnetic waves
are generated by oscillating electric charges
electromagnetic waves
carry energy and momentum
electromagnetic waves
Cover many frequencies
electromagnetic wave
Developed the electromagnetic theory of light
james clerk maxwell
his successful interpretation of the electromagnetic field resulted in the field equations that bear his name
james clerkmaxell
Developed and explained
Kinetic theory of gases
nature of saturn’s ring
color vission
James clerk maxwell
First to generate and detect electromagnetic waves in laboratory settings
heinrich rudolf hertz
the most important discoveries were in 1887
heinrich rudolf hertz
We will assume that the vectors for the electric and magnetic fields in an electromagnetic wave have a specific space time behaviour that is consistent with maxwell’s equations.
Plane electromagnetic waves
assume an electromagnetic wave that travels in the x direction with as shown. the x direction is the direction of the propagation.
plane electro magnetic waves
the electric field is assumed to be in the y direction and the magnetic field in the z direction
plane electromagnetic waves
waves in which the electric and magnetic fields are restricted to being parallel to pair of perpendicular axes are said to be linearly polarized waves
Plane electromagnetic waves
We also assume that at any point in space, The magnitude E and B of the fields depend upon x and t only
plane electromagnetic waves
The collection of waves is called a plane wave.
rays
is a line along which the wave travels
rays
A surface connecting points of equal phase on all waves, called the wave front, is a geometric plane.
Rays
surface connecting points of radiation sends waves out radially in all directions.
Rays
A surface connecting points of equal phase for this situation is a sphere.
rays
Electromagnetic waves transport momentum as well as energy
Momentum
As this momentum is absorbed by some surface, pressure is exerted on the surface
Momentum
Assuming the wave transports a total energy TER to the surface in a time interval Δt, the total momentum is p = TER / c for complete absorption.
Momentum
Various types of electromagnetic waves make up the em spectrum. There is no sharp division between one kind of em wave and the next. All forms of the various types of radiation are produced by the same phenomenon – accelerating charges.
spectrum of em waves