GCSE Physics

Electromagnetic  Spectrum

The only special thing about light is that our eyes can detect it. However, it is just a tiny part of a collection of electromagnetic waves that make up the electromagnetic spectrum.

They all have things in common. In a vacuum, they all travel at the same speed - the speed of light - which is 3 × 108 m/s.

They are all transverse waves, with the oscillations being electric and magnetic fields. Like all waves, they can be reflected, refracted and diffracted.


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