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The original was posted on /r/askscience by /u/NicoisNico_ on 2023-09-28 17:17:07+00:00.

From what I understand (which isn’t much), light moves in a straight line. But it creates its own electric field that goes up and down while going in the direction of the light particle. But wouldn’t it then make more sense for it to go exactly how the light moves, in a straight line? Why does it go up and down? For example, the earth’s magnetic field doesn’t just bob up and down. Can someone explain?