Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic waves defined as one of the waves that are propagated by simultaneous periodic variations of electric and magnetic field intensity. It includes radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays, etc.

Characteristics of electromagnetic waves:

i. Electromagnetic waves are produced by accelerated charges.

ii. They do not require any material medium for propagation.

iii. In an electromagnetic wave, the electric (E) and magnetic (B) field vectors are at right angles to each other and to the direction of propagation. Hence electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature.

iv. Variation of maxima and minima in both E and B occur simultaneously.

v. They travel in vacuum or free space with a velocity 3 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹ given by the relation (µ₀ – permeability of free space and ε₀ - permittivity of free space)

vi. The energy in an electromagnetic wave is equally divided between electric and magnetic field vectors.

vii. The electromagnetic waves being chargeless, are not deflected by electric and magnetic fields.