electromagnetic notes

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Electromagnetic waves are electronic and magnetic disturbances that transfer energy from one place to another.

Electromagnetic waves do not transfer matter.

The energy they transfer depends on the wavelength of the waves. This is why waves of different wavelengths have different effects .

waves from different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum have different wavelengths.

- long radio waves have wavelengths as long as 10km.

- X-rays and gamma rays have wavelengths as short as a millionth of a millionth of a millimetre (=0.000000000001 mm)

All electromagnetic waves travel at a speed of 300 million m/s through space or in a vaccum. This is the distance the waves each second.

We can link the speed of the waves to their frequency and wavelength using the wave speed equation.

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