Electromagnetic waves are generated when an electric charge (q) begins to accelerate (that is, when its velocity begins to change). When an electric field begins to change it, in turn, creates a changing magnetic field. When magnetic fields change, they create a changing electric field…

This field then creates another changing electric field and the process continues perpetually as the wave travels through space. As a result, electromagnetic waves are said to be self-propagating.

Electromagnetic waves are formed when an electric field (shown as blue arrows) couples with a magnetic field (shown as red arrows). The magnetic and electric fields of an electromagnetic wave are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of the wave. James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz are two scientists who studied how electromagnetic waves are formed and how fast they travel James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz

Electromagnetic waves Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that travel in empty space at a speed of 3.0 X 10 8 m/s (186,000 miles/second) the speed of light (“c”) The electromagnetic spectrum contains electromagnetic waves in order of wavelength