Waves and the electromagnetic spectrum – basic principles
How it works
Waves are propagating disturbances or oscillations, often periodic, that transfer energy without matter as a whole being transported with it. They are described by properties such as wavelength, frequency and propagation speed. Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium and include, for example, radio waves, visible light and X-rays. The electromagnetic spectrum arranges these waves according to their wavelength or frequency. Visible light is only a small part of this spectrum. The energy per photon of electromagnetic radiation increases with frequency. Waves can be reflected, refracted and diffracted.
The basic quantities of a wave (wavelength, frequency, propagation speed) are related as follows: propagation speed = wavelength × frequency. Electromagnetic waves do not require a propagation medium and can also travel in a vacuum. For electromagnetic radiation, the energy per photon increases with increasing frequency.
An example
Which statement about electromagnetic waves is correct?
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50 Exercises
To the learning unit →Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: Physics. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.