Lecture 3

Electromagnetic waves:
Couple electric and magnetic oscillations that moves with the speed of light and exhibit typical
wave behavior known as Electromagnetic waves.
The electric field and magnetic field of an electromagnetic wave are perpendicular (at right
angles) to each other. They are also perpendicular to the direction of the EM wave. An
electromagnetic wave is a wave that is capable of transmitting its energy through a vacuum (i.e.,
empty space). Electromagnetic waves are produced by the vibration of charged particles.
Electromagnetic waves are formed when an electric field comes in contact with a magnetic field.
Electromagnetic waves are solutions of Maxwell’s equations, which are the fundamental
equations of electrodynamics. All light waves are examples of electromagnetic waves.
Differences between mechanical and electromagnetic waves:

STATIONARY WAVES (standing Wave ):

When two waves of same amplitude and frequency travel in a medium in opposite
directions
with the same velocity, due to superposition of two waves there are some points of the
medium which have no displacements (nodes) and there are some points which vibrate
with
maximum amplitudes (antinodes). The resultant wave is called a stationary wave or
standing
wave. The resultant wave remains confined in the region in which they are produced and
is
non-progressive in character.
 Fig: Representation of Standing wave

Let us consider two wave trains of same frequency, speed and amplitude, traveling in
opposite direction along a straight line. Two such waves can be represented by the
equations
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
Hence the resultant wave can be represented as

( ) ( )
[ ( ) ( )]

( ) ( )

( )
where, is the amplitude of the resultant standing wave.
Equation (3) is the equation of standing wave.

Now, the amplitude, has a maximum value of at positions, where

These points are called antinodes and are spaced one-half wavelength apart.

The amplitude, has a minimum value of zero at positions, where

Fig. 1. Nodes and anti-nodes.

These points are called nodes and are spaced one-half wavelength apart.