electromagnetic wave

American  

noun

Physics.

1. a wave produced by the acceleration of an electric charge and propagated by the periodic variation of intensities of, usually, perpendicular electric and magnetic fields.

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electromagnetic wave British  

noun

1. a wave of energy propagated in an electromagnetic field See also electromagnetic radiation

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electromagnetic wave Scientific  

1. A wave of energy consisting of electric and magnetic fields, oscillating at right angles to each other.

2. See more at electromagnetic radiation

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Etymology

Origin of electromagnetic wave

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

electromagnetic wave

One consequence is that, in a strong magnetic field, an axion should occasionally turn into an electromagnetic wave, or photon.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 21, 2024

"If you have a screen and an electromagnetic wave passes by, the wave doesn't propagate straight through," Medvedev said.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 18, 2024

For vertical-vertical, the electromagnetic wave of both the transmitted and returned radar beam has peaks and valleys, similar to the rise and fall of ocean waves.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 15, 2024

In fact, Maxwell concluded that light is an electromagnetic wave having such wavelengths that it can be detected by the eye.

From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015

These people use an ancient system of electromagnetic wave propagation called frequency modulation, and once Lee and I rigged up a suitable transceiver the rest was simple.

From Control Group by Aycock, Roger D.