EM Radiation Help: Speed of EM Waves & Transverse Wave Info

[ruby_duby]

can anyone tell me what the speed of any e.m. wave through space and am i right in saying that they are transverse waves?

 

[Tide]

The speed of any e.m. wave in vacuum is c and they are transverse waves!

 

[Graeme Robinson]

The speed of any electromagnetic (EM) wave through space is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second, which is the speed of light in a vacuum. This value is commonly denoted by the symbol "c" in physics equations.

You are correct in saying that EM waves are transverse waves. This means that the direction of oscillation (or vibration) of the wave is perpendicular to the direction of propagation (or travel) of the wave. This is in contrast to longitudinal waves, where the direction of oscillation is parallel to the direction of propagation.

In the case of EM waves, the electric and magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to each other and to the direction of propagation, giving them their transverse nature. This can be seen in the familiar diagram of an EM wave, with the electric field vector pointing up and down, and the magnetic field vector pointing left and right.

I hope this helps clarify any confusion about the speed and nature of EM waves. Let me know if you have any further questions.