oscillating fields
The black line represents the straight path of the light itself. Along this path, there exists an electric field that will reach a maximum positive charge, slowly collapse to zero charge, and then expand to a maximum negative charge. Similarly, there is an changing magnetic field that oscillates from maximum north pole field to maximum south pole field. Along the path of the electromagnetic wave, these changing fields repeat, oscillating over and over again. However, the oscillating electric and magnetic fields demonstrate a weaving pattern that is not the way light travels. For an electromagnetic wave, the crests and troughs represent the oscillating fields, not the path of the light.