What oscillates in electromagnetic waves?

Answer 1

In a medium the wave 'signal' is transmitted by particle polarisation and atomic scattering, at a rate subject to Fresnel's refraction coefficient 'n'.

Between those particles, and in a vacuum, nobody really knows. It used to be the 'luminiferous ether', but it's light transmitting properties were 'removed' as a 'stipulation' of the Special Theory of Relativity, (STR) which said motion and speed was only relative and could not be 'in relation to any 'background''.

This was done to explain the constancy of light speed (CSL) with respect to moving receivers. Many have pointed out it's logical inconsistency (giving rises to paradoxes), but no alternative theory explaining CSL has yet replaced it. The only one available so far is the discrete field model (DFM), suggesting light changes speed locally to 'c' at each receiver (complying with 'n'). This allows the 'quantum field' (ex 'ether') back, resolves the paradoxes and explains the anomalies, but the STR is a 'ruling paradigm', which are almost impossible to change with current scientific thinking.

Answer 2

The radiation has both an electric component and a magnetic one, both as waves, where the electric field is perpendicular to the magnetic field, and synchronised.

Both fields oscillate, i.e. the amplitude changes cyclically, in its simplest form as a sine wave.

Answer 3

In classical electrodynamics, electromagnetic radiation, whether radio, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet or ionizing radiation (x-rays and gamma rays), consists of two fields which are varying with time: the magnetic field and the electric field. In an electromagnetic wave, the two fields are perpendicular to each other and both are perpendicular to the direction of the radiation. Electromagnetic waves clearly carry energy because they exert forces on electrons when they encounter them. But, in the waves themselves, there is no matter which is vibrating, just the fields. That is how electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum, where there is no matter.

An electromagnetic wave is generated by the accelerationof charge. If charge is constantly changing its direction, as in an oscillating electric circuit, a continuous stream of electromagnetic waves are generated. The same effect works in reverse: when an electromagnetic wave is incident upon charge, it exerts a force that causes the charge to accelerate. A stream of electromagnetic waves cause the charge to continually reverse direction which, in a conductor, can be detected as an oscillating current.

In a medium the wave 'signal' is transmitted by particle polarization and atomic scattering, at a rate subject to Fresnel's refraction coefficient 'n'.

Between those particles, and in a vacuum, nobody used to know. It used to be called the 'luminiferous ether', but the Special Theory of Relativity, which said motion and speed was only relative and could not be in relation to any background, showed that the ether didn't exist.

Amongst the many things that relativity explained that were before unexplainable was the constancy of the speed of light with respect to moving receivers. Many have pointed out relativity's logical inconsistencies (giving rise to paradoxes), but since relativity has been shown to be correct in every single one of the countless tests of its validity, no alternative theory explaining the constant speed of light can replace it. One of the biggest challenges in modern physics is to unite quantum field theory, which works beautifully for electromagnetism, with relativity, which works beautifully for gravity.

Answer 4

In electromagnetic waves, the electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to each other as the wave propagates through space. These oscillations are what carry the energy and information from one place to another.

Answer 5

electric and magnetic fields oscillate in an electromagnetic wave.

Answer 6

The electric and magnetic fields oscillate.

Answer 7

Electric and magnetic fields

Answer 8

electric and magnetic fields.