Electromagnetic waves are also known as EM waves.

Electromagnetic radiations are composed of

electromagnetic waves that are produced when an electric field comes in contact with the magnetic field.
It can also be said that electromagnetic waves are the composition of oscillating electric and magnetic
fields. Electromagnetic waves are solutions of Maxwell’s equations, which are the fundamental equations
of electrodynamics.
Electromagnetic waves were first postulated by James Clerk Maxwell and subsequently confirmed by
Heinrich Hertz. Electromagnetic waves are created as a result of vibrations between an electric and a
magnetic field. In this article, we will explore the definition and formation of electromagnetic waves
along with the graphical and mathematical representations of electromagnetic waves in detail.

How Are Electromagnetic Waves Formed?

 Generally, an electric field is produced by a charged particle. A force is exerted by this electric field
on other charged particles. Positive charges accelerate in the direction of the field and negative
charges accelerate in a direction opposite to the direction of the field.
 The Magnetic field is produced by a moving charged particle. A force is exerted by this magnetic field
on other moving particles. The force on these charges is always perpendicular to the direction of their
velocity and therefore only changes the direction of the velocity, not the speed.
 So, the electromagnetic field is produced by an accelerating charged particle. Electromagnetic waves
are nothing but electric and magnetic fields travelling through free space with the speed of light c. An
accelerating charged particle is when the charged particle oscillates about an equilibrium position. If
the frequency of oscillation of the charged particle is f, then it produces an electromagnetic wave with
frequency f. The wavelength λ of this wave is given by λ = c/f. Electromagnetic waves transfer
energy through space.

Graphical Representation of Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic waves are shown by a sinusoidal graph. It consists of time-varying electric and
magnetic fields which are perpendicular to each other and are also perpendicular to the direction
of propagation of waves. Electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature. The highest point of
the wave is known as the crest while the lowest point is known as a trough. In vacuum, the
waves travel at a constant velocity of 3 x 108 m.s-1.

Ultramagnetic Spectrum
What are radio waves?
Radio Spectrum

The basic building block of radio communications is a radio wave. Like

waves on a pond, a radio wave is a series of repeating peaks and
valleys. The entire pattern of a wave, before it repeats itself, is called
a cycle. The wavelength is the distance a wave takes to complete one
cycle. The number of cycles, or times that a wave repeats in a second,
is called frequency. Frequency is measured in the unit hertz (Hz),
referring to a number of cycles per second. One thousand hertz is
referred to as a kilohertz (kHz), 1 million hertz as a megahertz (MHz),
and 1 billion hertz as a gigahertz (GHz). The range of the radio
spectrum is considered to be 3 kilohertz up to 300 gigahertz.
A radio wave is generated by a transmitter and then detected by a
receiver. An antenna allows a radio transmitter to send energy into
space and a receiver to pick up energy from space. Transmitters and
receivers are typically designed to operate over a limited range of
frequencies.

Microwaves are defined as electromagnetic radiations with a frequency ranging between 300 MHz to 300
GHz. In contrast, the wavelength ranges from 1 mm to around 30 cm. Microwave radiation is commonly
referred to as microwaves. They fall between infrared radiation and radio waves in the electromagnetic
spectrum. A few of the properties of microwaves are as follows:
Infrared waves, or infrared light, are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. People encounter Infrared
waves every day; the human eye cannot see it, but humans can detect it as heat.

What is the visible light spectrum?

The visible light spectrum is the segment of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye
can view. More simply, this range of wavelengths is called visible light. Typically, the human
eye can detect wavelengths from 380 to 700 nanometers.

What is UV Light?
Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths than visible light. Although UV waves are
invisible to the human eye, some insects, such as bumblebees, can see them. This is similar to
how a dog can hear the sound of a whistle just outside the hearing range of humans.

What are medical x-rays?

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to visible light. Unlike light,
however, x-rays have higher energy and can pass through most objects, including
the body. Medical x-rays are used to generate images of tissues and structures
inside the body. If x-rays traveling through the body also pass through an x-ray
detector on the other side of the patient, an image will be formed that represents
the “shadows” formed by the objects inside of the body.
SOURCES OF GAMMA RAYS

Gamma rays have the smallest wavelengths and the most energy of any wave in the
electromagnetic spectrum. They are produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the
universe, such as neutron stars and pulsars, supernova explosions, and regions around black
holes. On Earth, gamma waves are generated by nuclear explosions, lightning, and the less
dramatic activity of radioactive decay.

Benefits

The possibility of controlling radiation belt electrons by EM wave transmission from the
ground can be used to quantify the loss of radiation belt electrons from man-made
sources. Powerful EM waves could also be used to mitigate atmospheric pollutants by
expelling them from the atmosphere.