Electromagnetic Energy

physics

Definition

Electromagnetic Energy

Electromagnetic energy is the form of energy carried by electric and magnetic fields. For a field configuration with electric field $\mathbf{E}$ and magnetic field $\mathbf{B}$, the energy density is

$$u=\frac{1}{2}{\epsilon }_0{\mathbf{E}}^2+\frac{1}{2{\mu }_0}{\mathbf{B}}^2,$$

so the total energy stored in a region $V$ is $E_{\text{EM}}={\int }_{V}udV$. When the fields oscillate together they form electromagnetic radiation, which transports this energy at the speed of light.