This week we are going to explore how electomagnetic waves are produced. Last week we saw that an accelerated point charge will create kinks in the field lines that propagate outward from the charge. These kinks are waves in the electric field. But from Maxwell's equations we have learned that the electric and magnetic fields cannot be separated because they are intimately linked together. This week we will investigate further how the linkage between the fields determines the nature of electromagnetic waves.
Looking at the radiated waves in the fieldlines in the movie above, in what direction is the radiation occuring? Is there any radiation in the direction of the acceleration or is most of the radiation perpendicular to the acceleration. Explain to your partner what is happening and the reason for it.
Go to Linear Radiation.