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A property of electromagnetic waves that makes them different than other kinds of waves such as sound or water waves is that?

1) they are transverse waves.
2) they do not require a medium.
3) their speed can change when moving in different media.
4) they have many possible wavelengths.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Electromagnetic waves differ from waves like sound or water waves in that they do not require a medium to travel, can have various wavelengths, and can move at the speed of light in a vacuum.

Step-by-step explanation:

A property of electromagnetic waves that makes them different from other kinds of waves such as sound or water waves is that they do not require a medium to propagate. This means that electromagnetic waves can travel through both matter and a vacuum, unlike mechanical waves like sound waves, which need a medium like air or water to travel through.

Electromagnetic waves are also transverse waves, and they travel at a constant speed—the speed of light—when in a vacuum. Furthermore, electromagnetic waves exhibit a wide range of wavelengths, from very short (gamma rays) to very long (radio waves), which corresponds to their different energy levels and gives them unique properties such as color for visible light.

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