Electromagnetic Waves

• A magnetic field is created around a wire that conducts electric current when current flows, known as a solenoid.
• A coiled wire known as a solenoid acts as a magnet.
• A solenoid with a core of iron acts as a strong magnet, it is called an electromagnet.
• Electromagnetic waves are considered to be both electric and magnetic in nature, containing an electric field and a magnetic field.
• Electromagnetic waves are produced by a charge that changes its direction or speed, such as electrons.
• Frequency describes how many waves per second a wavelength produces while wavelength measures the length of individual wave in meters.
• Electromagnetic waves are often arranged in the order of wavelength and frequency in what is known as the electromagnetic spectrum.
• All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum, which is 3 times 10^8 meters per second.
• Waves with the shortest wavelengths have the highest frequencies.
• Waves with the longest wavelengths have the lowest frequencies.
• Electromagnetic waves are made up of an electric field and a magnetic field positioned at right angles to each other and to the direction of motion of the wave, hence they are considered as transverse waves.
• Electromagnetic waves carry energy from one place to another, but unlike other waves, they do not carry energy by causing matter to vibrate.
• Electromagnetic waves can travel in a vacuum where there is no matter, but they can also travel through mediums such as air, glass, and any other material.
• Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves, meaning the changing electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to each other and to the direction of the propagating waves.
• Electromagnetic waves do not require any material or medium for propagation and travel at the speed of three times ten raised to the eighth power meters per second.
• When the oscillating charge in electromagnetic waves accelerates, the moving charge electric fields change too.
• The changing electric and magnetic fields in electromagnetic waves generate each other through Faraday's law of induction and Ampere's law of electromagnetism.
• Light can also be described as a wave, a wave of changing electric and magnetic fields that propagate outward from their sources, and these waves do not require a medium to propagate.
• The principles of the electromagnetic wave theory explain that many natural phenomena exhibit wave-like behaviors, including water waves, earthquake waves, and sound waves, which require a medium to propagate.
• As the wavelength decreases, the frequency of the wave increases, and as the wavelength increases, the frequency decreases, this is known as the spectrum of wavelength and frequency.
• Electromagnetic waves possess the following properties: they are both electric and magnetic in nature, contain an electric field and a magnetic field, are produced by a charge that changes its direction or speed, and can travel in a vacuum.
• Radio waves, microwaves, infrared rays, and visible light are classified as non-ionizing radiation.
• The wavelength measures the length of an individual wave in meters.
• Gamma rays, x-rays, and high ultraviolet rays are classified as ionizing radiation as their photons have enough energy to ionize atoms causing chemical reactions.
• Electromagnetic waves are described by their physical wave features: amplitude, wavelength, and frequency.
• The formula for frequency is derived as frequency equals wave speed divided by wavelength.
• The amount of energy carried by an electromagnetic wave increases with its frequency.
• Electromagnetic waves are often arranged in the order of wavelength and frequency, known as the electromagnetic spectrum.
• A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy, an electromagnetic wave comprises of an electric field and a magnetic field.
• Arranged according to increasing frequency, the electromagnetic spectrum displaces the following waves: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet rays, x-rays, and gamma rays.
• Waves with the longest wavelengths have the lowest frequencies while waves with the shortest wavelengths have the highest frequencies.
• All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed, if the frequency of a wave changes then the wavelength must change as well.
• The speed of light, denoted as c, is a constant value.
• The unit for frequency is hertz which is also cycles per second.
• Electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum at a speed of 3 times 10^8 meters per second, denoted as c.
• The term frequency describes how many waves per second a wavelength produces.
• All electromagnetic waves can travel through a medium but unlike other types of waves they can also travel in a vacuum or empty space.