Properties of Electromagnetic Waves

Key Properties of Electromagnetic Waves:

• Speed: In a vacuum, electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light, which is approximately 3 x 10⁸ meters per second.
• Wavelength and Frequency: The wavelength (λ) is the distance between successive crests or troughs, and frequency (ν) is the number of wave cycles that pass a point per unit time. They are related by the equation c = λν, where c is the speed of light.
• Transverse Nature: Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves, meaning that the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
• Electromagnetic Spectrum: This includes a range of waves, from radio waves to gamma rays, categorized based on their wavelength and frequency.
• Energy: The energy of an electromagnetic wave is directly proportional to its frequency and is given by E = hν, where E is energy and h is Planck's constant.