Page 15 - GALIET PHYSICS BLOSSOMS III

Fig. 410 Light is a transverse wave. “Electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to each other, forming an electromagnetic wave moving very fast from left to right at the speed of light through space in the direction perpendicular to both the electric and the magnetic fields that comprise it.”11 Both the electric and magnetic fields are out of phase with each other. That is, where there is maximum amplitude of the electric field, there is minimum amplitude of the magnetic field.
Finally, if an EM wave has a wavelength of 20 cm (ie., 0.2 m), what will be its frequency? Assume that the velocity of light is co = 3 × 108m. If I now increase the wavelength by a factor of 5, what will happen to the frequency?
10 Dr. Stamp’s slide 3.22.
11 Chaisson, McMillan. Astronomy Today. Volume II. The Solar System. 62. Fig. 3.7.
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