In: Physics
2. (a) What is an electromagnetic wave?
(b) Draw a visual representation of an electromagnetic wave.
(c) What is the speed of an electromagnetic wave?
Electromagnetic waves, making up electromagnetic radiation, can be imagined as self-propagating transverse oscillating waves of electric and magnetic fields. The electric and magnetic fields in polarized EM waves are always in phase and in planes at 90 degrees to each other.
In physics, electromagnetic radiation (EM radiation or EMR) refers to the waves (or their quanta, photons) of the electromagnetic field, propagating (radiating) through space-time, carrying electromagnetic radiant energy. It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, (visible) light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays
This diagram shows a linearly polarized, plane EM-wave propagating from left to right (along X-axis, in left-handed coordinates). The electric field is in a vertical plane (X/Z axes) and the magnetic field in a horizontal plane (X/Y axis). electromagnetic radiation consists of electromagnetic waves, which are synchronized oscillations of electric and magnetic fields that propagate at the speed of light through a vacuum.