Electromagnetic Waves
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to describe the properties of electromagnetic waves
- Students will be able to classify the electromagnetic spectrum by wavelength and frequency
- Students will be able to apply the wave equation c = λf to EM radiation
Core Concepts
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Wave properties
- Speed of light
Formulas
$$c = \lambda f$$
Wave equation for electromagnetic waves in vacuum
$$E = hf$$
Energy of a photon in terms of frequency
Units
| Hertz | Hz |
| Meter | m |
Interesting Fact
Maxwell predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves before they were experimentally detected
Key Scientist
James Clerk Maxwell
Predicted electromagnetic waves from his equations of electromagnetism
Modern Research
Gravitational waves, detected in 2015, are analogous to electromagnetic waves, confirming Einstein's century-old prediction and opening new observational astronomy.
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