Propagation
of Electromagnetic Wave
This java applet shows how the electric field, the magnetic field and the wave vector inter-relate as the electromagnetic wave propagates through space.
| Red arrow | Blue arrow | Green arrow |
| Electric field E | Magnetic field B | Velocity vector of wave V |
| fixed | Click near tip of B then drag the mouse
to change the velocity of the EM wave |
keep V X B = E |
Press the start Button to start the animation.The electromagnetic wave propagates in the opposite direction (from the origin).
Press the LEFT mouse button to pause the animation.
Press it again to resume.
Press the RIGHT mouse button and drag the mouse to change the viewing angle.
Right click near the origin to move it.T-field is the period (in seconds) [or 'fractions of a second' if referring to less than one second].Press the Reset button to reset.
The speed of propagation remains constant but the period may vary ...
(Thanks to Michael De Groot for his suggestion).
Thank Mark Servis for correction in the code (Oct. 8, 2001)
Your comments/suggestions are highly appreciated. E-mail Click hwang@phy03.phy.ntnu.edu.tw
Author¡GFu-Kwun Hwang Dept. of Physics National Taiwan Normal Univ.
last modified ¡G
