What are the characteristics of electromagnetic…

Physics Questions

What are the characteristics of electromagnetic waves? Check all that apply: 1) Travel in straight lines and can bounce off surfaces 2) Travel through space at the speed of light 3) Travel only through matter 4) Travel only through space 5) Can bend around objects 6) Move by particles bumping into each other 7) Move by the interaction between an electric field and a magnetic field.

Answer

Correct choices are marked in bold: travel in straight lines and can bounce off surfaces –> TRUE, electromagnetic waves typically move in straight paths, but they can reflect off surfaces. travel through space at the speed of light –> TRUE, electromagnetic waves propagate through a vacuum at the speed of light, [tex]c=3cdot 10^8 m/s[/tex]. travel only through matter –> FALSE; electromagnetic waves can also propagate through a vacuum. travel only through space –> FALSE, as they can also pass through matter. can bend around objects –> TRUE, this occurs during diffraction, where waves curve around obstacles or narrow openings. move by particles bumping into each other –> FALSE, as electromagnetic waves result from oscillations in electric and magnetic fields without involving particle collision. move by the interaction between an electric field and a magnetic field –> TRUE, electromagnetic waves are formed from oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are perpendicular to the wave’s direction of travel.

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