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What is light? A
centuries old question!
James Clerk Maxwell
developed his electromagnetic wave theory of light based
on the following facts. a) An oscillating magnetic field
creates an oscillating electric field (oscillating
electricity) in a conductor b) Flow of electrons in a
conductor creates a magnetic field around the conductor
and oscillating electricity in a conductor creates an
oscillating magnetic field around the conductor c)
Faraday effect- the rotation of the plane of
polarization (plane of vibration) of a light beam by an
applied magnetic field. Maxwell believed that
oscillating magnetic field causes an oscillating
electric field, which then causes another oscillating
magnetic field. He proposed that light has both electric
and magnetic field components, which oscillate in phase
perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the
direction of propagation.
But new studies indicate that, a charged particle
like electron has a standing electric field and magnetic
field at right angle (electron has both electric field
and magnetic field simultaneously. See structure
of electron). Light or radio wave is emitted when
charged particles vibrate parallel to its electric field
and horizontal to its magnetic field. That is, radio
wave and light are simply "string of oscillating
magnetic lines".
See:
How
radio waves are produced?
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