I know this is a popular representation of the oscillating electric and magnetic fields, but I think it might be wrong. Shouldn't the E field be at a maximum when the B field is at a minimum and vice versa? Not both at a maximum at the same time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by CallipygianSchoolGirl ( talk • contribs) 01:26, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
I take bad what I said back then. There is no 90 degree offset, and I really don't understand how I thought there was an offset. The image is correct. You can check Hecht's Optics, or Goode's Classical Electromagnetism for proofs that the fields are in phase. If you need further proof (or can't access the books and don't want to take what I said at face value), I'll dig it up and give you a direct quote. I've mentioned this elsewhere on wikipedia, but I don't remember where.
Anyway, image is accurate. Headbomb { ταλκ – WP Physics: PotW} 02:21, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
The image is wrong in that the electric and magnetic field labels should be switched. This image for example is correct: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electromagneticwave3D.gif Htexmexh ( talk) 13:40, 14 July 2013 (UTC)
Headbomb { ταλκ – WP Physics: PotW} 17:09, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
I know this is a popular representation of the oscillating electric and magnetic fields, but I think it might be wrong. Shouldn't the E field be at a maximum when the B field is at a minimum and vice versa? Not both at a maximum at the same time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by CallipygianSchoolGirl ( talk • contribs) 01:26, 14 March 2008 (UTC)
I take bad what I said back then. There is no 90 degree offset, and I really don't understand how I thought there was an offset. The image is correct. You can check Hecht's Optics, or Goode's Classical Electromagnetism for proofs that the fields are in phase. If you need further proof (or can't access the books and don't want to take what I said at face value), I'll dig it up and give you a direct quote. I've mentioned this elsewhere on wikipedia, but I don't remember where.
Anyway, image is accurate. Headbomb { ταλκ – WP Physics: PotW} 02:21, 24 June 2008 (UTC)
The image is wrong in that the electric and magnetic field labels should be switched. This image for example is correct: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electromagneticwave3D.gif Htexmexh ( talk) 13:40, 14 July 2013 (UTC)
Headbomb { ταλκ – WP Physics: PotW} 17:09, 25 June 2008 (UTC)