Electromagnetic Waves: Why they are Transverse - A Level Physics

Transverse Nature and Speed00:01:35

The oscillations of the electric and magnetic fields are at 90 degrees to the direction of motion, making electromagnetic waves transverse waves. All electromagnetic waves share a constant speed, 'c', which is approximately 3 x 10^8 meters per second, a fundamental constant in physics.

What are Electromagnetic Waves?00:00:04

Electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to travel. They are vibrations in both electric (E) and magnetic (B) fields. The video illustrates this by graphing the electric field's oscillation over time.

Visualizing Electric and Magnetic Fields00:00:46

The magnetic field (B) vibrates simultaneously with the electric field (E). These vibrations are perpendicular to each other, creating a 3D representation of the wave's propagation.