Difference between revisions of "Main Page/PHYS 3220/Speed of Light"
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<p>Light can be described as a periodic electromagnetic plane wave which carries energy in the form of an electromagnetic field. The electric and magnetic components can be written as:</p> | <p>Light can be described as a periodic electromagnetic plane wave which carries energy in the form of an electromagnetic field. The electric and magnetic components can be written as:</p> | ||
<table width=400 align=center><tr><td> | <table width=400 align=center><tr><td> | ||
| − | <p align=justify>[[File:C-eqn1.png| | + | <p align=justify>[[File:C-eqn1.png|180px|center]] |
</p> | </p> | ||
</td><td> | </td><td> | ||
| − | <p align=justify>[[File:C-eqn1b.png| | + | <p align=justify>[[File:C-eqn1b.png|180px|center]] |
</p> | </p> | ||
</td></tr></table> | </td></tr></table> | ||
Revision as of 15:13, 18 July 2011
Introduction
Light can be described as a periodic electromagnetic plane wave which carries energy in the form of an electromagnetic field. The electric and magnetic components can be written as:
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This represents a monochromatic (single-frequency) beam travelling in the + z direction having a wavelength λ and frequency v (related by λ ν = c). The angle
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