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pillanoid
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Homework Statement
Suppose that we write the Ex and Ey components of a light wave generally as:
Ex=Exocos([wt-kz) and Ey=Eyocos(wt-kz+p)
Show that at any instant Ex and Ey satisfy the ellipse equation on the Ey vs. Ex coordinate system:
(Ex/Exo)2+(Ey/Eyo)2-2(Ex/Exo)(Ey/Eyo)cos(p)=sin2(p)
E=electric field strength
E(x or y)=x or y component of E field
E(x or y)o=initial value of E(x or y)
w=time constant
t=time
k=spatial constant
z=location in space
p=phase difference between the two components
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I want to clarify what "at any instant" in the problem statement means before delving into a possibly long and tedious trig identity. Does this mean that either the time component or the spatial component of the E field equations can be ignored when solving/plugging equations in?
For that matter, would simplifying the terms through trig identities be the best approach here, or could this be a more scientifically-based question that depends on assumptions and reasoning to solve?
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