Electromagnetic Spectrum Summary

Overview

• Electromagnetism: Encompasses interactions between electric charges.
  • Related phenomena: Electricity and magnetism.
  • Static charges: Referred to as electric or electrostatic.
  • Moving charges:
    • Constant current: Described as magnetic or magnetostatic.
    • Varying current: Described as electromagnetic.

Forces

• Electric Forces: Exerted by charged objects on one another (electrostatic forces).
• Magnetic Forces:
  • Between magnets.
  • On moving charges (principle of electric motors/generators).

Fields

• Electric Field: Surrounds electric charges.
• Magnetic Field: Surrounds moving electric charges.
• Electromagnet: Coil with electric current.
• Earth's Magnetism: Due to electric currents in its outer core.

Time Varying Fields

• Changing electric field produces a magnetic field.
• Changing magnetic field produces an electric field.

Waves

• Electromagnetic Wave: Disturbance propagating in electric and magnetic fields.
  • Speed: Light speed in a vacuum.
  • Related phenomena: Electricity, magnetism, optics.
• Spectrum:
  • Range: All wavelengths/frequencies.
  • Visible light: Electromagnetic wave visible to humans.
  • Major bands (increasing frequency):
    • Radio waves
    • Microwaves
    • Infrared
    • Visible light
    • Ultraviolet
    • X-rays
    • Gamma rays
  • Boundaries are influenced by various factors (custom, language, etc.).

Related Topics

• Mechanics, kinematics, dynamics, energy, waves & optics, electricity & magnetism, thermodynamics.
• Modern physics: Relativity, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, particle physics.
• Foundations and reference materials: Units, measurement, data analysis.