Nature of Electromagnetic Waves

Ø Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.

Ø The transverse waves are those in which direction of disturbance or displacement in the medium is perpendicular to that of the propagation of wave.

Ø The particles of the medium are moving in a direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation of wave.

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Ø In case of electromagnetic waves the propagation of wave takes place along -axis, electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the wave propagation.

Ø This means wave propagation → -axis, electric field → y-axis and magnetic field → z-axis.

Ø Because of this electromagnetic waves are transverse waves in nature.

Ø Electric field of electromagnetic wave is represented as:

Ey = E0 sin(k ωt)

where,

Ey = electric field along y-axis

 = direction of propagation of wave

Wave number k =

Ø Magnetic field of EM wave is represented as:

Bz = B0 sin(k ωt)

  where,

     BZ = electric field along z-axis

      = direction of propagation of wave