Maxwell's Discovery of Electromagnetic Waves - Prof. Joshua Winter, Study notes of Physics

Download Maxwell's Discovery of Electromagnetic Waves - Prof. Joshua Winter and more Study notes Physics in PDF only on Docsity! Chapter 22 Electromagnetic Waves What is an Electromagnetic Wave?  James Clerk Maxwell united the theories of electricity and magnetism with 4 equations.  It was known that a changing magnetic field will produce an electric field.  Example: Generator using a turning magnet to produce electric current.  Maxwell predicted through his equations that the reverse should also be true: A changing electric field will produce a magnetic field. What is an Electromagnetic Wave?  Maxwell’s theory was verified when Heinrich Hertz detected EM waves experimentally.  Electromagnetic Wave – transverse wave created by an accelerating (or oscillating) electric charge made of electric (E) and magnetic (B) components that vibrate at 90 degrees to one another. These waves can travel through empty space. The Electromagnetic Spectrum  All EM waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum.  EM waves exist in a wide range of frequencies and wavelengths called the Electromagnetic Spectrum.  This spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, UV radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays.  The ONLY difference between these ‘types’ of radiation is the frequency and the wavelength. fc  The Electromagnetic Spectrum  Humans can see EM waves with a frequency range from 4.0 x 1014 Hz to 7.4 x 1014 Hz.  Example: What range of wavelengths can the human eye see?