Show Maxwell's equations in free space satisfy the wave equation

Maxwell's equations in free space:

∇ . E = 0

∇ x E = -∂B/∂t

∇ . B = 0

∇ x B = (1/c2)(∂E/∂t)

The wave equation: 

∇2U = (1/c2)(∂2U/∂t2)

If we take the curl of ∇ x E, we get ∇ x(∇ x E) = -(∂/∂t)∇ x B

Using the vector formula a×(b×c) = b(a· c)−c(a·b), we can expand the left hand side to: ∇(∇ . E) - E(∇.∇)

Since ∇.E = 0, this becomes -∇2E = -(∂/∂t)∇ x B

As ∇ x B = (1/c2)(∂E/∂t), we have -∇2E = -(∂/∂t)(1/c2)(∂E/∂t)

Thus, ∇2E = (1/c2)(∂2E/∂t2) which shows that Maxwell's equations satisfy the wave equation. A similar process can be applied to B

DD

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

How do control rods work in a nuclear fission reactor?


What is the derivative of distance with respect to time.


From the 2016 OCR B paper A ball is thrown at an angle of 30 Degrees to the horizontal. The initial kinetic energy of the ball is K. Air resistance is negligible. What is the kinetic energy of the ball at the maximum height.


An infared wave has a wavelength of 1.5 x10^–6 m. The speed of this wave is 2.2 × 10^8 m/s. Calculate the frequency of the wave. Give your answer in standard form and to 2 significant figures.