6.4.1

Properties

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Properties of Electromagnetic Waves

All electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that travel at the same speed (or velocity) in a vacuum. To simplify things, we assume that the speed of electromagnetic waves in air is the same as that in a vacuum. There is a continuous spectrum of EM waves and the waves transfer energy from the source to the absorber of the wave.

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Wavelength vs frequency

  • As you move from gamma rays to radio waves, the wavelengths increase and the frequencies decrease.
  • Gamma rays have the shortest wavelength and the highest frequency.
  • Radio waves have the longest wavelength and the lowest frequency.
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Wave energy

  • Electromagnetic waves transfer energy from the source of the wave to an absorber of the wave.
  • Gamma rays also carry the most amount of energy than any other wave in the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Wave energy increases with frequency.
  • Wave energy decreases with wavelength.
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Seven types of wave

  • The electromagnetic spectrum can be split into seven types of wave.
  • In order of highest frequency to lowest, the seven types are gamma, X-ray, ultraviolet (UV), visible, infrared, microwave, and radio waves.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

5.1Basics of Motion

5.2Forces

5.3Effects of Forces

5.4Pressure

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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