Electromagnetic Theory                  

Before 1861, Maxwell worked on a "mechanical" model of electrical and magnetic phenomenon. Using the concept of an all-pervasive "aether" that acted like a field of stationary and mobile gears, he designed equations that predicted the speed of electromagnetic phenomenon as 193,088 miles per second; nearly the same as that of the speed of light. Thus Maxwell concluded that "light consists of the transverse undulations of the same medium which is the cause of electric and magnetic phenomena." But Maxwell's exploration into this realm did not end with his success. He continued on to modify his equations; when he was finished they no longer required an aether at all! Instead, transverse waves of electromagnetic energy were modeled.

These waves propogated at the speed of light. As Maxwell himself wrote, "...We have strong reason to conclude that light itself (including radiant heat and other radiations) is an electromagnetic disturbance in the form of waves propagated through the electromagnetic field according to electromagnetic laws." This conclusion lead to the understanding of electromagnetic phenomenon that we have today. The electromagnetic spectrum is based on this assumption that light, x-rays, radio waves, etc. are made of the same "stuff".

Thanks to University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of New South Wales.