Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Electromagnetic waves are waves made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate through space without needing any medium. They include visible light, radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, and gamma rays.
Related terms
Frequency: The number of complete oscillations or cycles of an electromagnetic wave per unit time.
Wavelength: The distance between two consecutive points (such as peaks or troughs) on an electromagnetic wave.
Speed of light: The constant speed at which all electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum, approximately 3.00 x 10^8 meters per second (m/s).