AP Physics 2 / Unit 14: Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics
14.4 Electromagnetic Waves
Notes
EM waves are oscillating electric and magnetic fields, traveling at $c=3\times10^8$ m/s in a vacuum.
- Spectrum (low to high frequency): radio, microwave, infrared, visible, UV, X-ray, gamma.
Practice
Which has the longest wavelength?
Lowest frequency.
All EM waves in a vacuum have the same:
$c$.
Light with $\lambda=600$ nm has frequency:
$\displaystyle \frac{3\times10^8}{6\times10^{-7}}$.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 14 test.