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Gary Smith
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Also, if you get the gist of what I am asking, I would greatly appreciate correction of my vocabulary.
Gary Smith said:if you get the gist of what I am asking
Gary Smith said:Two atoms of oxygen bond into a diatomic molecule. Is there similar bonding between EM waves?
Gary Smith said:Like, instead of one guitar string plucked, a chord.
PeterDonis said:Chemical bonds, like the bond between the oxygen atoms in an O2 molecule, are ultimately due to electromagnetic interactions, since that is the interaction involved in determining the quantum mechanical states of electrons in atoms and molecules. But there are no similar states involved in EM waves (assuming you mean waves traveling in free space, not EM interactions between charged particles)--EM wave states are free states, not bound states.
I'm not sure how this is supposed to be similar to a chemical bond. Chemical bonds are not two atoms "playing a chord" together.
How much background do you have in QM? Have you worked through any basic QM textbooks?
Gary Smith said:I have no background in QM and have read no science textbooks since 8th grade in 1967. I am not a learner by reading.
Gary Smith said:What I am trying to understand is if waves can in some way combine to create a 'complex' of waves.
Gary Smith said:They are, in the case of 'EM interactions between charged particles' carrying energy between particles. Do they also carry information?
Gary Smith said:There are EM waves occurring within an atom, between charged particles, is that accurate?
Gary Smith said:my interest is very specific (as I am headed somewhere with my line of questioning)
PeterDonis said:It would be helpful if you would describe where you are headed, but I also suspect it would tread close to the line of the PF rules against personal speculations.
PeterDonis said:I don't know of any way to gain such an understanding without learning by reading--a lot. I'm sorry if that sounds negative, but I have to tell it like I see it.
Gary Smith said:Where I am headed is described in my PF profile
Complex waves are made up of multiple simple waves with different amplitudes, frequencies, and phases. This makes their overall shape and movement more complicated and harder to predict than simple waves.
Yes, any type of wave - whether it be sound, light, or water waves - can be part of a complex wave as long as it follows the principle of superposition, which states that when two or more waves overlap, their amplitudes add together.
Scientists use mathematical tools such as Fourier analysis to break down complex waves into their simple components and study their properties. They also use computer simulations and experiments to observe and measure complex wave behavior.
Examples of complex waves can be found in many natural phenomena, such as ocean waves, earthquake waves, and the sound of a musical instrument. They can also be created artificially in technology, such as in radio waves or in the vibrations of a building.
No, a complex wave requires at least two sources to be created. This is because a single source can only produce a simple wave with a constant amplitude and frequency, whereas a complex wave has varying amplitudes and frequencies that can only be achieved by combining multiple simple waves.