What are Electric & Magnetic Fields composed of?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of fields, specifically electromagnetic fields, and their existence in space and time. Fields are physical quantities that have a value at each point in space and time, and in the case of electromagnetic fields, they are represented by electric and magnetic field vectors. These vectors change over time, creating electromagnetic waves. The physical quantity of electromagnetic fields is the electric and magnetic field vectors themselves, which can be measured in terms of magnitude and direction.
  • #1
Intropersona
12
0
Field of what exactly?

Sounds is vibrations in air molecules.

Electromagnetic waves are vibrations in fields of what? Where are these fields existing?

Wiki states that fields are "A field is a physical quantity that has a value for each point in space and time."

Where is the physical quantity of E & M fields?

This wiki description really seems like a beating around the bush at conferring what exactly these things are in their essence.
 
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  • #2
Well you are *initially* right on this problem. To address this problem physicists initially developed the theory of aether http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_theories. But later they dismiss this theory and just accepted that the EM field (as well as the gravitational field) is a property of spacetime, that is simply at any point (x,y,z,t) of space time we can assign a value f(x,y,z,t) for any field of interest (let it be electric, magnetic, gravitational, weak or strong nuclear).
 
  • #3
Intropersona said:
Electromagnetic waves are vibrations in fields of what?

They aren't vibrations at all. They are a cyclic change in the direction and magnitude of the electric and magnetic field vectors. The field vectors are vector quantities that specify the direction and magnitude of the force felt by a charged particle in an EM field. An EM wave is these vectors changing, cycling over time in a way that is described by a wave equation.

Intropersona said:
Where are these fields existing?

They exist everywhere.

Intropersona said:
Where is the physical quantity of E & M fields?

Per wiki: A physical quantity (or "physical magnitude") is a physical property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, that can be quantified by measurement.

The 'physical quantity' in this case is the vectors I mentioned. You can measure their magnitude and direction, making them physical quantities.
 

Related to What are Electric & Magnetic Fields composed of?

1. What are electric and magnetic fields?

Electric and magnetic fields are invisible forces that exist around electrically charged particles and magnets. They can be thought of as the space around these objects where their influence can be felt.

2. How are electric and magnetic fields related?

Electric and magnetic fields are closely related and are actually different aspects of the same phenomenon. Changing electric fields can create magnetic fields, and changing magnetic fields can create electric fields. This is known as electromagnetic induction.

3. What are electric and magnetic fields composed of?

Electric and magnetic fields are composed of energy, which is carried by electromagnetic waves. These waves are made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, which travel through space at the speed of light.

4. What factors affect the strength of electric and magnetic fields?

The strength of electric and magnetic fields can be affected by the distance from the source, the amount of charge or current, and the material they are passing through. The strength of the fields also decreases with distance from the source.

5. How do electric and magnetic fields interact with matter?

Electric and magnetic fields can interact with matter in various ways. They can cause charged particles to move, which is how electricity is generated and transmitted. They can also exert forces on magnetic materials, causing them to align with the field. Additionally, electric and magnetic fields can also be absorbed or reflected by certain materials, depending on their properties.

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