Electromagnetic Waves

Describe the properties of an electromagnetic wave.

  • Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are mutually perpendicular.
    • Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves because the oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
    • Electromagnetic waves are commonly assumed to be plane waves, which are characterized by planar wave fronts.
  • Electromagnetic waves do not need a medium through which to propagate.
  • Categories of electromagnetic waves are characterized by their wavelengths.
    • Categories of electromagnetic waves include (in order of decreasing wavelength, spanning a range from kilometers to picometers) radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
    • Visible electromagnetic waves are further broken into categories of color, including (in order of decreasing wavelength) red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
    • Visible electromagnetic waves are also called light. Sometimes, electromagnetic waves of all wavelengths are collectively referred to as light or electromagnetic radiation.

AP Physics 2 expects students to know the ordering of the electromagnetic spectrum (including visible light). However, students will not be expected to define exact wavelength ranges within the electromagnetic spectrum.

IRBfpBPELmE Je_f4RimfKI 3dGiR32OxE8 iVbuCROYAz4 nXuPL8KD2SU uIASki8Ub5M M6QQcBZpm80 wCSF4TrXqrE RJNq3yik4c0 uflB4JfQlE4 EcPpDWA9zw0 rDXw3CHf8tQ pj_ya0e20vE 7eutept5h0Q

More videos

EDcfJId1nXQ 330sm2NIYpw MCVH_IztXFo bUZ21Ln3nps 7Czs3mReh9c
Complete and Continue