8.4 Electromagnetic Waves

EM Waves

Electromagnetic waves (or EM waves) are very self-explanatory as they consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are perpendicular to each other. Electromagnetic waves are transverse since these waves are perpendicular to the actual direction of which the wave is moving.

EM waves are special and unique from mechanical waves since they do not require a medium to travel through. This allows EM waves to travel through a vacuum, such as space. In a vacuum, all EM waves will travel at the same speed, which is the speed of light, which is ${c=3.00*10^8 m/s}$. This is why EM waves are also sometimes just called light waves.