Can an electric current generate an electromagnetic wave?

Answer 1

Not a constant electric current but a changing one will generate electromagnetic waves.

First: If you have a lone electron, and it is accelerated in any way, it will send off an electromagnetic wave. This is because a changing electric field generates a magnetic field.

It is also true that changing magnetic field will generate an electric field. This is the reason that if you have an electric current, which is generating a magnetic field, and you change the current you generate an electromagnetic wave. To generate a continuous sinusoidal electromagnetic wave you continuously change the current sinusoidally.

Answer 2

Yes, an electric current can generate an electromagnetic wave. When an electric current flows through a conductor, it creates a magnetic field around the conductor. This changing magnetic field then generates an electromagnetic wave, which consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields propagating through space.