Electromagnetic waves consist of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and propagate at the speed of light c . Since the electric and magnetic fields in most electromagnetic waves are perpendicular to the direction in which the wave moves, it is ordinarily a transverse wave

Maxwell’s prediction of electromagnetic waves resulted from his formulation of a complete and symmetric theory of electricity and magnetism, known as Maxwell’s equations Electromagnetic waves are created by oscillating charges (which radiate whenever accelerated) and have the same frequency as the oscillation

electromagnetic waves — radiation in the form of waves of electric and magnetic energy. speed of light — in a vacuum, such as space, the speed of light is a constant 3 x 10 8 m/s. electric field — a vector quantity ( E ); the lines of electric force per unit charge, moving radially outward from a positive charge and in toward a negative charge. transverse wave — a wave, such as an electromagnetic wave, which oscillates perpendicular to the axis along the line of travel.