PHYS208 5/18 Class

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Electromagnetic Waves

Quote of the Day

Review of Maxwell's Equations

Integral Form
Differential Form
Comparison of Two Forms

Derivation of Wave Equation

Partial Differential Equation 1 from Maxwell #3
Partial Differential Equation 2 from Maxwell #4
Wave Equation Resulting from 1 and 2
Derivation of the Wave Speed

The "bottom line" of today's class is that time-varying electromagnetic waves propagate in empty space at the speed of light. Maxwell's equations suggest that light is an electromagnetic wave.

Phase speed of electromagnetic wave in free space:

Chart of the Electromagnetic Spectrum plus visible spectrum

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"http://www.physics.udel.edu/~watson/phys208/clas0518.html"
Last updated May 9, 1998.
Copyright George Watson, Univ. of Delaware, 1997.