Vibrating electric charges that can travel through space where no matter is present describe which type of waves?

Vibrating electric charges that can travel through space where no matter is present describe which type of waves?

• A. Mechanical Waves
• B. Water Waves
• C. Electromagnetic Waves
• D. Sound Waves

Answer: (C)

Waves that can travel through empty space come from vibrating electric charges creating oscillating electric and magnetic fields that move together as a wave. These electromagnetic waves don’t need a medium to propagate, so they can traverse a vacuum. This sets them apart from mechanical waves, which require matter to carry the wave along; for example, sound and water waves rely on particles moving back and forth. Electromagnetic waves include visible light, radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, and they travel at the speed of light in vacuum. The fields are oriented perpendicular to each other and to the direction of travel, a pattern described by Maxwell’s equations.

Waves that can travel through empty space come from vibrating electric charges creating oscillating electric and magnetic fields that move together as a wave. These electromagnetic waves don’t need a medium to propagate, so they can traverse a vacuum. This sets them apart from mechanical waves, which require matter to carry the wave along; for example, sound and water waves rely on particles moving back and forth. Electromagnetic waves include visible light, radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, and they travel at the speed of light in vacuum. The fields are oriented perpendicular to each other and to the direction of travel, a pattern described by Maxwell’s equations.