What is Light? What are Radio Waves?
By Prof. Bruce Sherwood. Drop a pebble into a pool and a water wave radiates outward. The wave consists of highs and lows in the water level. Light and radio and cell phone transmissions are also waves: they radiate outward from the sun, from radio antennas or from cell phones. What is "waving"? How are these waves created? Why are they called "electromagnetic?" Why is it that they can tan your skin or be sent and received on your radio or cellphone? We'll explore the amazing phenomena of electromagnetic waves, which are the basis for many of today's technologies as well as for the behavior of the natural world around us.
| What is Light? What are Radio Waves? |
| Related Links |
| Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The "electromagnetic spectrum" of an object has a different meaning, and is instead the characteristic distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by that particular object. |
| Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity This is a three part BBC documentary series presented by Jim Al-Khalili, telling the story of our quest to master nature's most mysterious force - electricity. |
| Light Fantastic This is a BBC documentary series presented by Professor Simon Schaffer, telling of the history of optics. |
| Synchrotron Radiation: The Light Fantastic What happens when scientists and engineers suddenly have access to an x-ray source that is one million times more intense than anything they have used before? |
| Physics: Vibrations and Waves In addition to the traditional topics of mechanical vibrations and waves, coupled oscillators, and electromagnetic radiation, other interesting topics are covered. |