Features of Electromagnetic Waves

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This diagram shows the key features of electromagnetic (light) waves and introduces some of the terms used to describe them.

  • Across the centre is an electromagnetic wave, shown in red.
  • The wave is travelling from left to right.
  • The different features of the wave are shown by labels.
  • At the bottom of the diagram are short definitions of key terms.

Description

Features of Electromagnetic Waves

TRY SOME QUICK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO GET STARTED
Red has the longest wavelength whilst violet has the shortest.
The hertz is used to measure the frequency of electromagnetic waves. Different prefixes denoting subdivisions are used to aid measurement eg. kilohertz (1,000 cycles/sec), megahertz ( 1,000,000 cycles/sec), gigahertz (1,000,000,000 cycles/sec) and terahertz (1,000,000,000,000 cycles/sec).
The amplitude of an electromagnetic wave is shown as the distance from the centre line (the still position) to the top of a crest or to the bottom of a corresponding trough.

About the diagram

About the diagram
  • This diagram shows the key features of electromagnetic (light) waves and introduces some of the terms used to describe them.
  • Across the centre is an electromagnetic wave, shown in red.
  • The wave is travelling from left to right.
  • The different features of the wave are shown by labels.
  • At the bottom of the diagram are short definitions of key terms.
Remember that:
  • Electromagnetic radiation (light) is often described in terms of waves.
  • Electromagnetic waves, which are a form of electromagnetic radiation, propagate from a light source, travel through space, and encounter different materials.
  • Visible light corresponds with the range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that are responsible for the sense of sight.
  • Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation, as are radio waves, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and microwaves.
  • The range of wavelengths that produce visible light forms a very small part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Visible light is perceived as colour. The colour red has been chosen to correspond with the wavelength of this wave.

Some key terms

Wavelength is a measurement from any point on the path of a wave to the same point on its next oscillation. The measurement is made parallel to the centre-line of the wave.

  • The wavelength of an electromagnetic wave is measured in metres.
  • Each type of electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves, visible light and gamma waves,  forms a band of wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • The visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum is composed of the range of wavelengths that correspond with all the different colours we see in the world.
  • Human beings don’t see wavelengths of visible light, but they do see the spectral colours that correspond with each wavelength and the other colours produced when different wavelengths are combined.
  • The wavelength of visible light is measured in nanometres. There are 1,000,000,000 nanometres to a metre.

Any material through which an electromagnetic wave propagates (travels) is called a medium (plural media).

Summary

About sections (temp)

The frequency of electromagnetic radiation (light) refers to the number of wave-cycles of an electromagnetic wave that pass a given point in a given amount of time.

The speed (or velocity) of a light wave is a measurement of how far it travels in a certain time.

  • The speed of light is measured in metres per second (m/s).
  • Light travels through a vacuum at 300,000 kilometres per second.
  • The exact speed at which light travels through a vacuum is 299,792,458 metres per second.
  • Light travels through other media at lower speeds.
  • A vacuum is a region of space that contains no matter.
  • Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space by having volume.
  • When discussing electromagnetic radiation the term medium (plural media) is used to refer to anything through which light propagates including empty space and any material that occupies space such as a solid, liquid or gas.
  • In other contexts empty space is not considered to be a medium because it does not contain matter.

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