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Electromagnetic waves of different frequency are called by different names since they have different sources and effects on matter. In order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength, the electromagnetic spectrum includes: radio waves , microwaves , infrared , visible light , ultraviolet , X-rays , and gamma rays .
A diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum, showing various properties across the range of frequencies and wavelengths. The electromagnetic spectrum is the full range of electromagnetic radiation, organized by frequency or wavelength. The spectrum is divided into separate bands, with different names for the electromagnetic waves within each band.
The phase velocity at which electrical signals travel along a transmission line or other cable depends on the construction of the line. Therefore, the wavelength corresponding to a given frequency varies in different types of lines, thus at a given frequency different conductors of the same physical length can have different electrical lengths.
Here we assume that the wave is regular in the sense that the different quantities describing the wave such as the wavelength, frequency and thus the wavenumber are constants. See wavepacket for discussion of the case when these quantities are not constant. In general, the angular wavenumber k (i.e. the magnitude of the wave vector) is given by
Dispersion occurs when sinusoidal waves of different wavelengths have different propagation velocities, so that a wave packet of mixed wavelengths tends to spread out in space. The speed of a plane wave, v {\displaystyle v} , is a function of the wave's wavelength λ {\displaystyle \lambda } :
The speed of this flow has multiple meanings. In everyday electrical and electronic devices, the signals travel as electromagnetic waves typically at 50%–99% of the speed of light in vacuum. The electrons themselves move much more slowly. See drift velocity and electron mobility.
Another intermediate region, called the transition zone, is defined on a somewhat different basis, namely antenna geometry and excitation wavelength. It is approximately one wavelength from the antenna, and is where the electric and magnetic parts of the radiated waves first balance out: The electric field of a linear antenna gains its ...
Symbol [1] Name of quantity Unit name Symbol Base units E energy: joule: J = C⋅V = W⋅s kg⋅m 2 ⋅s −2: Q electric charge: coulomb: C A⋅s I electric current: ampere