Deriving the speed of an electromagnetic plane wave

using Maxwells equations

Defining the wave front

of the plane wave

be transverse as the electric and magnetic

fields must be perpendicular to the direction
of propagation so that there is no net flux.

Assume an electric field with only a ycomponent and a magnetic field with only a
z-component and that both fields move together in the +x-direction with speed c.
Space can be divided into two regions by
a plane perpendicular to the x-axis (parallel
to the yz-plane). At every point in the xdirection, the electric and magnetic fields are
uniform. At every point in the +x-direction,
there is no electric or magnetic field. The
boundary plane, called the wave front, moves
at a constant speed c in the +x-direction.
Hence, the electric and magnetic fields travel
in the +x-direction at a constant speed c.

Gauss laws of electric 3 Faradays law

The wave satisfies Faradays law. A rectanguand magnetic fields
lar loop parallel to the xy-plane is used, with
height a and width x and with one end in
front of the wave front. Applying Faradays
law and taking the +z-direction as positive
gives

The wave satisfies Gauss laws of electric and

magnetic fields. This can be seen by taking
a rectangular box with sides parallel to the
three coordinate planes as a Gaussian surface.
I
The surface encloses no electric charge. The
E dl = Ea
(1)
total electric flux and magnetic flux through
the surface are both zero, even if part of the
box is in the region where there is no electric As the wave front progresses in a time interval
or magnetic field as neither fields have com- dt, it moves a distance c dt, sweeping out an
ponents in the x-direction. The wave must area ac dt. Hence, the magnetic flux through
1

the loop increases by dB = Bac dt. Thus, As the wave front progresses in a time interval
the change in magnetic flux is
dt, it moves a distance c dt, sweeping out an
area ac dt. Hence, the electric flux through
dB
= Bac
(2) the loop increases by dE = Bac dt. Thus,
dt
the change in electric flux is
Using Faradays law gives
dE
= Eac
(5)
dt
E = cB
(3)
Using Amperes law gives
using equations (1) and (2).
B = 0 0 cE
(6)
using equations (4) and (5).

Amperes law

The speed of an electroThe wave satisfies Amperes law. A rectangu- 5

lar loop parallel to the xz-plane is used, with
magnetic wave
height a and width x and with one end in
front of the wave front. Applying Amperes Substituting equation (3) into equation (6)
law and taking the +y-direction as positive and solving for c gives
gives
1
c=
= 299 792 458 ms1
(7)
I
0 0
B dl = Ba
(4)
2