2007-01-18 16:22:45 · 4 answers · asked by steaua 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The answer is yes, and it's not at all obvious! In fact, up until around 1900, most physicists thought that empty space wasn't empty, but actually had an "aether" in which electromagnetic waves propogated. That was proven to be untrue (accidentally) by Michelson and Morely around the turn of the century.
Anyway, in quantum electrodynamics, the electromagnetic force is carried by photons (the light particles). The particular photons that carry the force are called virtual photons (whereas real photons are the light, radio, infrared, and other waves of electromagnetic radiation). The electric "field" is really just a way of looking how the forces of electric charges attracting or repelling vary around different areas.
I know this is a bit of an oversimplification, but the field can be thought of as just the way the virtual photons travel. Why is the force weaker as the particles move away from each other? Because the virtual photons have farther to travel, and are less likely to go from one point to the other. Things like that add up and, boom, we have our electric field!
2007-01-18 17:08:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how U take the definition of "empty space".
If ur empty space means nothing in it then electric field cannot exist in empty space. bcos the space will not remain a 'empty space' then.
If by empty space U mean the space in which no 'matter' is present ( like air or other solid/liquid matter) then electric fied can remain in that region. Bcos electric field is a form of energy. And energy dosent require any material medium to travel. it can travel where there is empty space also. infact its motion hinders a bit in presence of some material
2007-01-18 17:55:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anurag ® 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If this space is not isolated then we cannot escape this space to have electric field because where there is matter charge is there and thus its electric field which exists up to infinity but if this space is isolated then no field as as such can exist
2016-03-04 18:14:33 · answer #3 · answered by aboli 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is possible.
For example, light consists of an oscillating electrical and magnetic field, and it travels just fine from the Sun to the Earth.
As to how it does this, I could not begin to explain!
2007-01-18 16:30:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋