Properties
Applied Science: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, topic 1.7.4
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Properties
As wavelength of a wave increases, what happens to its frequency?
Which type of electromagnetic wave has the lowest frequency?