How are electromagnetic waves classified?

How are electromagnetic waves classified?

Energy of Photon Generally, electromagnetic radiation is classified by wavelength into radio wave, microwave, terahertz (or sub-millimeter) radiation, infrared, the visible region we perceive as light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. The behavior of electromagnetic radiation depends on its wavelength.

What characteristics make electromagnetic waves?

The inherent characteristic of electromagnetic waves is its frequency. According to Maxwell, varying the electric field gives rise to a magnetic field. An accelerated charge produces a time-varying magnetic field which in turn produces a time-varying electric field.

What are electromagnetic waves and why are they called as such?

Electromagnetic waves are produced by the motion of electrically charged particles. These waves are also called “electromagnetic radiation” because they radiate from the electrically charged particles. They travel through empty space as well as through air and other substances.

Are all electromagnetic waves transverse waves?

All electromagnetic waves (light waves, microwaves, X-rays, radio waves) are transverse. All sound waves are longitudinal.

What are three characteristics of electromagnetic waves that can be measured?

Measuring electromagnetic radiation Electromagnetic radiation can be expressed in terms of energy, wavelength, or frequency. Frequency is measured in cycles per second, or Hertz. Wavelength is measured in meters. Energy is measured in electron volts.

What is a characteristic that makes electromagnetic waves and water waves different?

Unlike water waves, electromagnetic waves always travel at the same speed (3 hundred million metres per second) and sound waves all travel at the same speed in a given medium (for example, approximately 340 metres per second in air). The speed of a wave is related to both its frequency and wavelength.

What determines the frequency of an electromagnetic wave?

Frequency is determined by the amount of wavelengths that pass in one second. The frequencies of the electromagnetic waves emitted by an object increase as the temperature increases. The sun is much hotter than the earth, and so emits more higher frequency electromagnetic radiation.

Do electromagnetic waves require a medium?

Electromagnetic waves differ from mechanical waves in that they do not require a medium to propagate. This means that electromagnetic waves can travel not only through air and solid materials, but also through the vacuum of space.

Is electromagnetic waves longitudinal or transverse?

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves. That means the electric and magnetic fields change (oscillate) in a plane that is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave. Also note that electric and magnetic fields in an EM wave are also perpendicular to each other.

What are the different types of electromagnetic waves?

Electromagnetic waves of different frequency are termed by different names since they have different origin and effects on matter. In order of growing frequency and reducing wavelength these are microwaves, radio waves, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, X-rays and gamma rays.

What are the characteristics of different types of waves?

Different types of waves have different set of characteristics. Longitudinal waves – In this type of wave, the movement of the particle are parallel to the motion of the energy i.e. the displacement of the medium is in the same direction to which the wave is moving.

What is electromagnetic radiation?

The waves (or their photons, quanta) of the electromagnetic field, transmitting or radiating through space, transmitting electromagnetic radiant energy is the electromagnetic radiation. It consists of microwaves, radio waves, infrared, (visible) light, X-rays, ultraviolet and gamma rays.

What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency in electromagnetic waves?

A wave contains successive channels and crests, and the distance among two adjacent crests or channels is named the wavelength. Waves of the EM spectrum vary in size, from very lengthy radio waves the size of buildings to very small gamma rays minor than atom nuclei. Frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength. According to equation