Electromagnetic oscillations are the essence of understanding

Oscillation, as a category of physical representations, is one of the basic concepts of physics and is defined, in general terms, as a recurring process of changing a certain physical quantity. If these changes are repeated, it means that there is a certain time interval through which the physical quantity assumes the same value. This time interval is called the period of oscillation.

And actually, why the fluctuations? Yes, because if we fix the value of this quantity at the moment T1, then at the moment Tx it will assume a different value, say, increase, and after another time it will increase again. But the increase can not be eternal, because for a recurring process, there will come a time when this physical quantity is to be repeated, i.e. Again takes the same value as at the moment T1, although on the time scale it is already the moment T2.

What has changed? Time. One time interval has passed, which will be repeated as a time distance between the same values of the physical quantity. And what happened to the physical magnitude for this period of time - the period? Yes, it's okay, she just made one swing - went through a full cycle of its changes - from the maximum to the minimum value. If during the change from T1 to T2 the time was fixed, then the difference T = T2-T1 gives a numerical expression of the time period.

A good example of the oscillatory process is a spring pendulum. The weight moves up and down, the process repeats, and the value of the physical quantity, for example, the height of the pendulum, fluctuates between the maximum and minimum values.

The description of the oscillation process includes parameters that are universal for oscillations of any nature. This can be mechanical, electromagnetic oscillations, etc. It is always important to understand that the oscillatory process for its existence necessarily includes two objects, each of which can receive and / or give energy - this is the same mechanical or electromagnetic that was discussed above. At each moment of time one of the objects gives energy, and the second takes. At the same time, energy changes its essence to something very similar, but not that. So, the energy of the pendulum goes into the energy of the compressed spring, and they periodically change in the process of oscillation, solving the eternal question of partnership - to whom to raise and lower whom, ie. Give or accumulate energy.

Electromagnetic oscillations already in the title contain an indication of the alliance members - the electric and magnetic fields, and the well-known capacitor and inductance serve as the custodians of these fields. Connected to an electrical circuit, they represent an oscillatory circuit in which the energy transfer is performed in exactly the same way as in a pendulum - the electric energy of the capacitor passes into the magnetic field of the inductor and back.

If the system of capacitor-inductance is left to itself and electromagnetic oscillations have appeared in it, then their period is determined by the parameters of the system, i.e. Inductance and capacity - there are no others. Simply speaking, in order to "pour" energy from a source, say, a capacitor (and there is also a more exact analogue of its name - "capacitance"), inductivity, you need to spend time proportional to the amount of stored energy, ie, capacity. In fact, the value of this "capacity" is a parameter on which the period of oscillations depends. More capacity, more energy - longer energy transfer, longer period of electromagnetic oscillations.

What physical quantities are included in the set that defines the description of the electromagnetic field in all its manifestations, including oscillatory processes? These components of the field: charge, current, magnetic induction, voltage. It should be noted that electromagnetic oscillations are the broadest spectrum of phenomena that we, as a rule, rarely connect with each other, although this is the same essence. And than they differ? The first difference between any oscillations among themselves is their period, the essence of which was considered above. In engineering and science it is customary to talk about the inverse period of magnitude, frequency - the number of vibrations per second. The system unit of frequency is hertz.

So, the whole scale of electromagnetic oscillations is a sequence of frequencies of electromagnetic radiations that propagate in space.

The following sites are conventionally distinguished:

- radio waves - spectral range from 30 kHz to 3000 GHz;

- infrared rays - a portion of longer wavelength than light, radiation;

- visible light;

- ultraviolet rays - a region of a shorter wavelength than the light of radiation;

- X-rays;

- gamma rays.

The entire range of radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a single nature, but of different frequencies. The breakdown into sectors is purely utilitarian, which is dictated by the convenience of technical and scientific applications.