An engineer at the company you are working for has just reported finding an unusual electromagnetic wave. This wave consists only of an electric field, with no magnetic field accompanying it. You are certain that the engineer is mistaken because
A) an electromagnetic wave must have a magnetic field that changes with time to produce its electric field.
B) electromagnetic waves always contain both electric charges and magnetic poles, and magnetic poles are accompanied by magnetic fields.
C) electromagnetic waves contain moving electric charges and charges produce magnetic fields when they move.
D) while waves consisting only of electric fields are common and travels indefinitely through space, they are known as "electric waves," not "electromagnetic waves."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CA) Electromagnetic waves, by definition, consist of both electric and magnetic fields that oscillate perpendicularly to each other and to the direction of wave propagation. The changing magnetic field induces the electric field, and vice versa, allowing the wave to propagate through space.C) The presence of moving electric charges inherently produces a magnetic field. Since electromagnetic waves can be generated by accelerating charges, the movement of these charges is associated with the creation of both electric and magnetic fields, making it impossible for an electromagnetic wave to consist solely of an electric field without a magnetic component.

An Engineer at the Company You Are Working for Has