I am a teacher in mathematics. I know an interpretation for solutions of Maxwell equations as simultaneous perpendicular oscillations of electric field and magnetic field, and I know that they need not become radiation or propagation. This provides a theoretical reason for the name “electromagnetic waves” for radiated energy waves, which have the speed in vacuum that coincides with the speed of light in vacuum.
The electromagnetic waves, for which wavelengths are (approximately) between 1 mm to 1m, are generally called microwaves. The energy waves obtained by shooting electrons in micro ovens are also called micro waves, for which the speed in vacuum is less than the speed of light in vacuum, in view of de Broglie law. Since micro waves of micro ovens have less speed, my first question is the following:
(1) Why should we call this type of micro waves as electromagnetic waves?
I noted that there is no device to practically observe both electric field component and magnetic field component separately for an electromagnetic wave such that both components have same common wavelength. I like to give a stress for the phrase “common wavelength”.
Microwaves corresponding to the ones generated in micro ovens may lose electrons when there is an arrangement to observe electrons, and one may claim that electric field component has been separated. I am particular about “common wavelength”.
Since there is no practical existence of two components for other types of electromagnetic waves, with common wavelength, my second question is the following:
(2) Why should we call the other types of waves as electromagnetic waves?
My common question is the following:
What is the practical reason to give the name “electromagnetic waves”?
P.S. One site to call rays in micro ovens is: https://www.mathsisfun.com/physics/waves-radio-microwave.html#:~:text=Microwave%20ovens%20use%20electromagnetic%20waves,vibrate%20fast%20and%20heat%20up.
Some electromagnetics waves (also called micro waves) having wavelength between 1mm and 1m may have the speed in vacuum as c, the speed of light in vacuum.