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.

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