How does electromagnetic energy travel?

Question

Hazel Asher · Accepted Answer

The Poynting vector, which is defined as follows, describes the electromagnetic energy transmission in pure Maxwell theory. #S=E	imesH# where #E# is the electric field vector and #H# is the magnetic field vector and the product is a cross product, so S is also a vector. The physical meaning of #S# is that its norm represents the energy per unit of area in the point where it is evaluated, and its direction is where that energy will move.
Because both #E# and #H# can oscillate with time as waves, the Poynting vector can have an amplitude that oscillate and propagate in time following as direction the direction of motion of the electromagnetic wave. In quantum electrodynamics, the energy of the field is transported by photons where each photon carries an energy of #h
u# with #h# the Plank constant and #
u# the frequency.

Levi Acosta · Answer

undefined Electromagnetic energy travels in the form of waves. These waves consist of electric and magnetic fields oscillating perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. They can travel through a vacuum, such as outer space, as well as through various materials, including air, water, and solids.