Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves with a wide range of properties and uses. All objects are continually absorbing and emitting infrared radiation, affecting their temperatures.
Electromagnetic (EM) waves are transverse waves. Their vibrations or oscillations are changes in electrical and magnetic fields at right angles to the direction of wave travel.
All electromagnetic waves:
Electromagnetic waves travel at 300,000,000 metres per second (m/s) through a vacuum.
Electromagnetic waves form a continuous spectrum of waves. This includes:
Electromagnetic waves can be separated into seven distinct groups in the spectrum.
Often a phrase is used to help remember the order of the groups of the electromagnetic spectrum such as Roman Men Invented Very Unusual X-ray Guns.
Each group contains a range of frequencies. For example, visible light contains the limited range of frequencies that can be detected by the human eye: