Common properties
Electromagnetic waves are members of a family of waves with common properties called the electromagnetic spectrum.
All electromagnetic waves:
- are transverseAt 90 degrees. In transverse waves, the vibrations are at 90 degrees to the direction in which the waves travel. waves;
- can travel through a vacuumA volume that contains no matter.;
- travel at exactly the same speed in a vacuum, the speed of light, 300,000,000 m/s.
Like all waves, electromagnetic waves:
- transfer energy from one place to another;
- can be reflected.
Differences
Each type of wave in the electromagnetic spectrum has different:
- wavelengthThe length of a single wave, measured from one wave peak to the next.;
- frequencyThe number of waves produced each second. The unit of frequency is hertz (Hz)..