Electromagnetic Waves Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Electromagnetic Waves?

Electromagnetic waves are forms of energy that travel through the universe, including light, radio waves, gamma rays and x-rays. Electromagnetic waves are created by the movement of electric charges, such as those in antennae or electrical cables. They move at the speed of light. The properties of electromagnetic waves vary depending on their frequency. Radio waves have long wavelengths and low frequencies; infrared has shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies; and ultraviolet has even shorter wavelengths but higher frequencies than infrared light. Gamma rays have very short wavelengths but extremely high frequencies. Electromagnetic radiation is used for many purposes in everyday life, from television and radio broadcasts to cell phone communication to medical imaging procedures like X-rays or MRI scans. It can also be used to transfer energy from one place to another without wires through wireless technology. In addition, it can be used for navigation with GPS satellites, as well as for military applications such as radar systems which detect objects like aircrafts or ships at a distance using reflected electromagnetic radiation signals. As useful as it is, however, electromagnetic radiation also poses health hazards when exposure is too high most notably in the form of cancer caused by overexposure to ultraviolet light or X-rays. For this reason it’s important to limit our exposure to these types of electromagnetic radiation whenever possible in order to reduce our risk of getting ill from them later on in life.