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This lesson covers the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum — the order of EM waves, their shared properties, and the relationship between frequency and wavelength, as required by the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification (1SC0).
Electromagnetic (EM) waves are transverse waves that transfer energy from one place to another. Unlike sound, they do not need a medium — they can travel through a vacuum.
| Property | Value / Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Transverse |
| Speed in a vacuum | 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s (the speed of light, c) |
| Do they need a medium? | No — they can travel through a vacuum |
| Made of | Oscillating electric and magnetic fields at right angles to each other |
Exam Tip: All EM waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum: 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s. This is given on the data sheet but you should memorise it to save time.
The EM spectrum is a continuous range of waves, arranged by wavelength and frequency.
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