Electromagnetic wave radiation

Source code containing animations: nb

Expanding shell

Animation illustrating the transition from the electric field generated by a static charge to the field generated by a charge moving uniformly in a straight line. The period of acceleration between these states causes the radiation of a thin shell containing the acceleration field.

Electric field from harmonically oscillating charge

The electric charge oscillates in the middle along the horizontal axis. The electric field generated by this charge is displayed. Progressive electromagnetic wave radiation occurs. Near the charge, the field is decently whitened, since the field diverges there and moreover the formula derived in the lecture loses validity there. Along the direction of oscillation, no radiation occurs. The strongest radiation occurs perpendicular to the direction of oscillation – perpendicular to the direction of acceleration.