Relationship between the E and B fields

Case: The fields between two metallic plates

Stationary waves. The Heinrich Hertz experiment

Ei = Em Cos( kx - t ) y X
Incident wave

Y
Reflected
wave

Incident wave

Z
Ei = Em Cos( k x - t ) y
E r = Em Cos( k x + t +R) y
X
R is included to account for
possible phase shift upon reflection

Using the identities Cos(a+b) = Cos(a) Cos(b) - Sin(a) Sin(b)

Cos((a-b) = Cos(a) Cos(b) + Sin(a) Sin(b)

gives Cos(a+b) + Cos((a-b) = 2 Cos(a) Cos(b)

Cos(A) + Cos(B) = 2 Cos[ (A+B)/2 ] Cos[ (A-B)/2 ]

E total (x,t) = Ei + E r = 2 Cos [ kx + R/2 ] Cos [t + R/2 ] y
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We require the total electric field to be zero at the metal plate (i. e. at x=0 ) and at all
time.

At x=0:

E total (0,t) = 2 Cos[R/2] Cos[t + R/2] y = 0

This requires R=
Thus,

Ei = Em Cos( k x - t ) y

E r = Em Cos( k x + t +) y = -Em Cos( k x + t ) y

E total (x,t) = Ei + E r = 2 Sin( kx ) Sin (t ) y

On the other hand, before we also know that the ME require,

E y Bz

x t
From which one obtains,

Bz
2kCos( kx) Sin (t )
t
k
Bz = 2 Cos( kx) Cos (t )

Btotal (x,t) = 2 Cos( kx) Cos (t ) z


XX
Case: The fields in the free and unbounded space
Relationship between the electric field and magnetic field
amplitudes
Let's consider an harmonic plane wave

We will leave for the

HW assignment to
demonstrate that