In: Physics
Visible light, gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet (black) light, infrared radiation, microwaves, and radio waves are all related. Many of their properties can be explained by a wave theory: periodically varying electric and magnetic fields (electromagnet waves). It also illustrates the maximum amplitude and the wavelength .
The intensity of a wave is associated with the square of its amplitude.Electromagnetic waves travel through a vacuum at the speed of light, c = 2.9979 × 108 m s–1. The entire wave may be thought of as moving from left to right. Thus at position P, where the electric field had maximum amplitude at the instant the figure was drawn there is a progressive decrease in amplitude with time. The amplitude reaches its smallest (most negative) value when the wave has moved a distance equal to that separating points P′ and P. Eventually the amplitude increases to its maximum value again, corresponding to movement of a distance P″ to P, or one wavelength λ. A moving wave can be characterized by the frequency v at which points of maximum amplitude pass a fixed position. The speed of the wave (distance traveled per unit time) must be the product of the wavelength