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Electromagnetic (EM) propagation is dual in nature. Early experiments on light and/or electrons to see if they were waves or particles gave puzzling results. Experiments to prove the propagations were waves gave positive results to confirm that they were indeed waves. When other experiments were conducted to prove they were particles the result was that they acted like particles. Someone jestingly suggested that we call them "wavicles". When electromagnetic waves interact with other waves and/or need to have the characteristics of waves, they act like waves. If however the propagating energy interact with particles by non-wave like behavior then it acts as a particle. To explain how electromagnetic energy propagates in a vacuum, why just consider it as particles for that journey. This may not seem as a satisfactory answer, but as A. Einstein once remarked "the Universe is not only stranger than you imagine, it is stranger than you can imagine" When electromagnetic energy acts as a particle they are called "photons". There are separate math equations to deal with EM propagation for waves & as particles. They both work and they both can predict results.
What else can I help you with?
Which electromegnetic wave have minimum frequency?
Direct Current (DC) has an infinite wave length, hence 0 frequency.
What is a wave that occurs at or near the boundary of two different media?
It is called a boundary wave or an interface wave. These waves propagate along the interface between two different media and can exhibit unique properties based on the properties of the two media they border.
Can a tranverse wave propogate without a medium?
No, a transverse wave requires a medium to propagate because the particles in the medium must move perpendicular to the direction of the wave's energy transfer. Without a medium, such as in a vacuum, transverse waves cannot propagate.
What is cutoff wave number?
The cutoff wave number is the maximum wave number that can propagate in a waveguide or transmission line without attenuation or loss. Waves with wave numbers higher than the cutoff wave number will be attenuated and cannot propagate effectively. It is an important parameter in the design and analysis of waveguides and transmission lines.
A wave traveling in a medium transfers?
A wave traveling in a medium transfers energy without transferring matter. The energy is transferred by the vibration of particles in the medium, causing a wave motion to propagate. The amplitude of the wave represents the energy of the wave.
What is a wave which needs a medium in order to propagate itself?
A mechanical wave, such as sound waves or seismic waves, requires a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) in order to propagate because the wave energy is transferred through the particles of the medium vibrating or oscillating. Without a medium, these types of waves cannot travel.
What type of wave requires a medium to propagate and cannot travel through a vacuum?
The type of wave that requires a medium to propagate and cannot travel through a vacuum is called a mechanical wave.
Why an electromegnetic wave can travel through empty space that contains no matter?
Because an electromagnetic wave is a wave that doesn't oscillate matter, rather it oscillates between electric and magnetic fields, a phenomenon that requires no matter. In fact, the only thing that matter does, with all of its tiny, little electromagnetic fields coming from the atoms inside of it, is slow the wave down.
What does a medium to make the slower a transverse wave propagates?
The medium's properties that affect the speed of a transverse wave include its density and elastic properties. In general, waves propagate slower in denser media and faster in more elastic media. The interaction between these two factors determines the speed at which the wave can travel through the medium.
A mechanical wave genrally does NOT?
A mechanical wave generally does NOT require a medium to propagate.
What is a wave in physics and how does it propagate through different mediums?
In physics, a wave is a disturbance that travels through a medium, transferring energy without transferring matter. Waves can propagate through different mediums by causing particles in the medium to oscillate back and forth in the direction of the wave's movement. The type of medium can affect how the wave propagates, with factors like density and elasticity influencing the speed and behavior of the wave.
Can a mechanical wave move through a vacuum answer?
No, mechanical waves require a medium (such as air, water, or solids) to propagate. Without a medium, like in a vacuum, there are no particles for the wave to travel through, so it cannot propagate. Sound waves, for example, can't travel through a vacuum.
