Electromagnetic wave laboratory

Explore mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields as they travel through space and carry energy.

WAVE STATEPROPAGATING +X

Electric field EMagnetic field BEnergy flow S

WAVELENGTH λ1.000 m

λ = v / f

PERIOD T1.000 s

T = 1 / f

ANGULAR FREQUENCY ω6.283 rad/s

ω = 2πf

WAVE NUMBER k6.283 rad/m

k = 2π / λ

RELATIVE INTENSITY1.000

I ∝ E₀²

WHAT TO NOTICE

Three perpendicular directions

The electric field, magnetic field and propagation direction are mutually perpendicular. The fields oscillate in phase; their cross product points in the direction that energy travels.

c = fλB₀ = E₀ / cS = (1/μ₀) E × B

Educational visualisation using scaled values. Electromagnetic waves in vacuum travel at the constant speed of light; the adjustable speed is a modelling aid.