Question

Electromagnetic waves that travel through the air are?

1) transverse waves.
2) longitudinal waves.
3) a 50/50 combination of transverse and longitudinal waves.
4) mostly transverse with small admixture of longitudinal.
5) mostly longitudinal with small admixture of transverse.

Answer 1

Electromagnetic waves that travel through the air, such as visible light, are transverse waves, with oscillations perpendicular to the wave's direction of travel.

Step-by-step explanation:

Electromagnetic waves that travel through the air are transverse waves. These waves, such as visible light, consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that are perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Unlike longitudinal waves, where the disturbance is parallel to the direction of propagation, the disturbance in transverse waves is perpendicular.

For example, in a transverse wave, if a wave propagates horizontally, the medium's disturbance would be vertical. This concept is important for understanding how electromagnetic waves interact with their environment, such as in the case of polarization where the electric field oscillates in a specific direction.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question of what kind of waves electromagnetic waves are is (2) transverse waves.