Light and Electromagnetic Waves Teaching in Engineering Education

TL;DR

This paper discusses laboratory exercises and curricula for teaching light and electromagnetic waves to engineering students, emphasizing visualization and evidence of light as an electromagnetic wave through microwave experiments.

Contribution

It proposes specific physics lab exercises and curricula that enhance understanding of electromagnetic waves and light properties in engineering education.

Findings

Microwave experiments help visualize electromagnetic wave properties.

Laboratory exercises demonstrate that light is an electromagnetic wave.

Educational advantages include improved conceptual understanding.

Abstract

Suggestion of physics laboratory exercises and discussion of the physics laboratory curricula for engineering majors where the properties of light and electromagnetic waves are studied in parallel. It is shown that one of the important educational advantages of an experimental study of the properties of microwaves as an example of electromagnetic waves simultaneously with the properties of light are, on one hand, visualization of the properties of microwaves, and on the other hand, provide evidences that light is an electromagnetic wave.