Em waves

Displacement Current

An additional current suggested by Maxwell, due to the time-varying electric field, that accounts for inconsistencies in Ampere's circuital law.

Maxwell's Equations

A set of equations formulated by James Clerk Maxwell that mathematically express the laws of electromagnetism, predicting the existence of electromagnetic waves.

Electromagnetic Wave

A wave that consists of coupled time-varying electric and magnetic fields propagating through space.

Ampere-Maxwell Law

An extension of Ampere's law that includes the displacement current term, allowing for a consistent application of electromagnetic principles.

Gamma Rays

High-frequency electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than 10⁻¹⁴ m, produced in nuclear reactions.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation arranged according to their frequency or wavelength.

Hertz's Experiment

Experiments conducted by Heinrich Hertz which experimentally verified the existence of electromagnetic waves.

Conduction Current

The current carried by the flow of electric charge through conductors, distinct from displacement current.

Lorentz Force

The force experienced by a charged particle moving in electric and magnetic fields, given by the formula F = q(E + v × B).

Frequency of Light

The oscillation rate of light waves, typically in the range of 10¹⁴ Hz for visible light.

Wave Propagation Speed

The speed at which electromagnetic waves travel in vacuum, approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/s.

Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction

Describes how a changing magnetic field can induce an electric field.

Wavelength

The distance between successive crests of a wave, inversely related to frequency.

Electric Flux

A measure of the electric field passing through a given area, proportional to the amount of charge.

Permittivity of Free Space (ε₀)

A constant that represents how much electric field can permeate free space, approximately 8.854 x 10⁻¹² F/m.

Magnetic Permeability (μ₀)

A constant that describes how a magnetic field interacts with a vacuum, approximately 4π x 10⁻⁷ T m/A.

Radio Waves

The longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, used for communication and broadcasting.

Microwaves

Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths ranging from about 1 mm to 30 cm, often used in cooking and radar technology.

Infrared Radiation

Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 700 nm and 1 mm, perceived as heat.

Visible Light

The range of electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye, approximately 400 nm to 700 nm.

Ultraviolet Light

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, responsible for causing sunburns.

X-Rays

High-energy electromagnetic waves with wavelengths shorter than UV light, used in medical imaging.

Gamma Rays

The highest frequency electromagnetic waves with great penetration power, produced by nuclear reactions.

Electromagnetic Wave Speed in Vacuum

The speed at which all electromagnetic waves propagate in a vacuum, approximately 3 × 10⁸ m/s.

Photon

A quantum of electromagnetic radiation, representing a packet of energy.

Wavelength-Frequency Relationship

The inverse relationship where shorter wavelengths correspond to higher frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum.