electromagnetic wave

electromagnetic wave

n.

A wave of energy having a frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum and propagated as a periodic disturbance of the electromagnetic field when an electric charge oscillates or accelerates.

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electromagnetic wave

A wave of energy consisting of electric and magnetic fields, oscillating at right angles to each other. See more at electromagnetic radiation.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

electromagnetic wave - radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge electromagnetic radiation, nonparticulate radiation photon - a quantum of electromagnetic radiation; an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle actinic radiation, actinic ray - electromagnetic radiation that can produce photochemical reactions electron beam, beam, ray - a group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation black-body radiation, blackbody radiation - the electromagnetic radiation that would be radiated from an ideal black body; the distribution of energy in the radiated spectrum of a black body depends only on temperature and is determined by Planck's radiation law Hertzian wave - an electromagnetic wave generated by oscillations in an electric circuit gamma radiation, gamma ray - electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay and having an extremely short wavelength line - a single frequency (or very narrow band) of radiation in a spectrum microwave - a short electromagnetic wave (longer than infrared but shorter than radio waves); used for radar and microwave ovens and for transmitting telephone, facsimile, video and data radiation - energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles radio emission, radio radiation, radio wave - an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between 0.5 cm to 30,000 m roentgen ray, X ray, X-radiation, X-ray - electromagnetic radiation of short wavelength produced when high-speed electrons strike a solid target