# Transverse Nature of Electromagnetic Waves

In an electromagnetic wave, electric and magnetic field vectors are perpendicular to each other and at the same time are perpendicular to the direction of propagation of wave. This nature of electromagnetic wave is known as Transverse nature.

Maxwell proved that both the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to each other in the direction of wave propagation. He considered an electromagnetic wave propagating along positive x-axis. When a rectangular parallelepiped was placed parallel to the three co-ordinate axis, the electric and magnetic fields propagate sinusoidal with x-axis and are independent of y and z axis.

The figure shows rectangular parallelepiped along positive direction.

Electromagnetic waves

The rectangular parallelepiped does not enclose any charge thus the total electric flux across it must be zero. This law is called gauss’s law, i.e.

$$\oint \overrightarrow{E}. \overrightarrow{ds}$$=0

Have you ever anchored one end of a rope and held the other end in your hand? You can create a transverse wave by moving your hands in different direction.

The electric field remains the same at different points on x-axis; this proves that the electric field is static in nature. It is known that static fields can propagate as a wave, hence EX = 0.

The component of electric field along the direction of propagation is zero as the electric field is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

This also proves for magnetic field, as the magnetic field is also perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. This proves the transverse nature of electromagnetic wave to the direction of wave propagation.

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#### Practise This Question

A charge q1 exerts some force on a second charge q2. If third charge q3 is brought  near, the force of q1 exerted on q2