EM waves

EM waves

1. EM waves do not require a medium to travel through i.e., an EM wave can travel through a vacuum, all EM waves are transverse.

2. Examples of EM waves: light, radio waves and ultraviolet waves.

3. Mechanical waves do require a medium to travel through and they cannot travel through a vacuum. Mechanical waves can either be transverse or longitudinal.

4. Examples of mechanical waves: sound, ultrasound and earthquake waves.

5. Properties of EM waves: can travel in a vacuum, travel at the same speed in a vacuum(speed of light), they're all transverse waves.

   • They also display properties common to all types of wave: carry energy, can reflect and can refract.

6. Types of EM waves: gamma, X-ray, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves and radio.