Electromagnetic Waves

James Clerk Maxwell converted Faraday’s lines of force theory into mathematical equations that provided the foundation of modern physics. The equations showed how electromagnetic waves pass through space as vibrations in an all-pervasive ether. Maxwell began with a mechanical model of spinning spheres and vortices and ended with a model that linked quantities varying in space and time represented by abstract mathematical symbols. One of the few contemporary scientists that appreciated the significance of Maxwell’s equations, Heinrich Hertz discovered a way to detect the ubiquitous electromagnetic waves. He showed that the waves passed through a thick door and were deflected and refracted by a metal surface. His work led to the development of wireless telegraphy by Marconi and voice radio by Fessenden.