Electromagnetic Waves: The Link Between Light and Electricity

Electromagnetic waves are vibrations of electric and magnetic fields traveling through space.
They don’t need air or matter—light can cross the vacuum of space.
James Clerk Maxwell first showed that electricity and magnetism are two sides of the same coin.
The spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
All electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light in a vacuum—about 300,000 km per second.
The wave’s frequency determines its energy: higher frequency means more energy.
Radio waves carry music to your car, while X-rays let doctors see inside your body.
Visible light is just a tiny slice of the vast electromagnetic spectrum.
Polarization, reflection, and refraction show how EM waves interact with materials.
From Wi-Fi to sunshine, electromagnetic waves connect modern life to the cosmos.