1. Electromagnetic spectrum

2. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you tried to watch television in space?

3. You would be able to see the picture but not hear the sounds.

4. This is because sound waves require a medium such as air to travel through.

5. Light waves are an example of an electromagnetic wave.

6. Electromagnetic waves are a special kind of transverse wave that can travel through a vacuum such a space.

7. There are many different kinds of electromagnetic waves and they have different wavelengths.

8. But they all travel at the same speed of 3 × 108 m/s through space – the speed of light.

9. This means that some electromagnetic waves have higher frequencies and transfer more energy.

10. The electromagnetic spectrum
Scientists classify electromagnetic waves by their wavelength and frequency.

11. The electromagnetic spectrum
See how many different types of electromagnetic wave you recognise.