Physical Principles: Waves

Abstract

Why study wave motion? We already know that the description of our natural state space has qualities of both particle mechanics and wave mechanics. When we require quantum mechanical descriptors, we will need to be familiar with both of these mechanical descriptions. This knowledge is necessary for work at a fairly complex level. At a very practical level, however, the wave description per se is a very useful abstraction. We know about the biological systems that interest us because we interact with them. All of our interactions are through electromagnetic phenomena. Even though all of the phenomena that interest us can be completely described in terms of quantum electrodynamics, this is practically (though not conceptually) complicated. Electromagnetic radiation is composed of rapidly alternating electric and magnetic fields (i.e., waves). It is the rapid to-and-fro motion of electrons that gives rise to the electromagnetic radiation that influences the electrons in our eyes and instruments, allows us to see, and enables our instruments to sense. Without the connection of the wave, we would literally be blind to the world around us.