Maxwell’s Equations And Electromagnetic Waves

Ampere’s law with Maxwell’s addition:

• Describes the relationship between a changing electric field and the generation of a magnetic field.

Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction:

• Explains how a changing magnetic field can induce an electric field.

The displacement current and Maxwell’s fourth equation:

• Introduces the concept of displacement current to account for the continuity of current flow in the presence of dielectrics.

Electromagnetic waves:

• Describes the propagation of combined electric and magnetic fields through space.

Properties of electromagnetic waves: speed, wavelength, frequency:

• Relates the speed of light to the wavelength and frequency of electromagnetic waves.

Wave equation for electromagnetic waves:

• Describes the mathematical relationship between the electric and magnetic fields of an electromagnetic wave.

Transverse nature of electromagnetic waves:

• Explains that the electric and magnetic fields of an electromagnetic wave are perpendicular to the direction of propagation.

Polarization of electromagnetic waves:

• Describes the orientation of the electric field of an electromagnetic wave.

Energy and momentum of electromagnetic waves:

• Relates the energy and momentum carried by electromagnetic waves to their electric and magnetic fields.