Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Radiowaves are the lowest frequency and longest wavelength electromagnetic waves.
About Radiowaves
- Radiowaves transmit the least energy of all the electromagnetic waves.
- Radiowaves are transverse waves.
- Radiowaves can travel through a vacuum as well as through gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
- The speed of radiowaves through a vacuum is 300,000,000m/s.
As a wave radiowaves can be:
- Transmitted - Radiowaves can pass through a medium.
- Absorbed - The energy transferred by radiowaves can be taken in by certain materials, particularly metals.
- Reflected - Radiowaves can bounce off an interface between two media.
- Refracted - Radiowaves can change direction when they cross the interface between two media.
Unique Properties
- Radiowaves can cause alternating currents in metals.
- Radiowaves can pass through many non-metals unaffected.
Applications
- Radiowaves can be used in communication including radio broadcasts and television broadcasts because they can be created by alternating current and can cause an alternating current in metals.
Dangers
- There are no dangers of radiowaves.