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Cornfused
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I was just reading about EM wave propagation and had two questions I would appreciate an answer to.
1-I read how the electric and magnetic fields of an EM wave oscillate sinusoidally and perpendicular to each other and the direction the wave is traveling. Is there any significance or special properties of an EM wave when the E and B fields are at zero or both on the axis in the direction of propagation?
2-As I understand it, EM waves can travel indefinitely in a vacuum, but not in matter. What is it that causes waves in matter to (for lack of a better word) stop or wear out? Is the energy in a wave converted to another form when it hits the atoms of the matter it is traveling through?
If it is easier, you can post a link that explains the answers. Thanks
1-I read how the electric and magnetic fields of an EM wave oscillate sinusoidally and perpendicular to each other and the direction the wave is traveling. Is there any significance or special properties of an EM wave when the E and B fields are at zero or both on the axis in the direction of propagation?
2-As I understand it, EM waves can travel indefinitely in a vacuum, but not in matter. What is it that causes waves in matter to (for lack of a better word) stop or wear out? Is the energy in a wave converted to another form when it hits the atoms of the matter it is traveling through?
If it is easier, you can post a link that explains the answers. Thanks