Question

Which are characteristics of electromagnetic waves? Check all that apply.

travel in straight lines and can bounce off surfaces
travel through space at the speed of light
travel only through matter
travel only through space
can bend around objects
move by particles bumping into each other
move by the interaction between an electric field and a magnetic field

Answer 1

Correct characteristics:
- travel in straight lines and can bounce off surfaces — Yes (in a uniform medium EM waves follow straight rays and can reflect from surfaces).
- travel through space at the speed of light — Yes (in vacuum EM waves travel at c).
- can bend around objects — Yes (diffraction and also refraction cause bending when wavelength is comparable to obstacle or when entering another medium).
- move by the interaction between an electric field and a magnetic field — Yes (EM waves are oscillating electric and magnetic fields that sustain each other).

Incorrect statements:
- travel only through matter — No (they travel through vacuum and through matter).
- travel only through space — No (they propagate in both vacuum and materials).
- move by particles bumping into each other — No (that describes mechanical waves like sound, not electromagnetic waves).