> Just wanted to throw out a question to the Vort Collective... > > In an EM wave, why are the electric and magnetic fields perpendicular to each other?
Because the electric and magnetic *effects* manifest perpendicularly? The fields are an abstract(mental) construction. In reality, there isn't an electric and a magnetic field. There is just "something" )which in principle cannot be known directly), that manifests electrically (inducing eddy currents) and magnetically (producing magnetic fields). In short: electricity and magnetism are both sides of the same coin, and those sides are perpendicular to each other. Instead to opposite, like the faces of a real coin :-) Now, if you are asking for a more fundamental(topological?) reason those effects act and manifest perpendicularly to each other, I would very much like to hear it too. Regards, Mauro
