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electromagnetic radiation

electromagnetic radiation

7 4.2
Waves of energy like radio, visible light, and X-rays that move through space
  • noun
  • /ˌɛlɛktrəʊmægˈnɛtɪk ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radiación electromagnética
  • What we see as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet are different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation called the visible spectrum.
  • visible electromagnetic radiation
  • form of electromagnetic radiation

We are being stressed by this polarized electromagnetic radiation.

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Examples

  • According to Maxwell's laws of electromagnetism, an electric charge moving in a magnetic field gives rise to electromagnetic radiation.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Since x-rays are a highly energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, we might naturally expect them.

    Academic text (1991)
  • All electromagnetic radiation has a constant speed.

  • These crystals in solid and liquid crystals receive electromagnetic radiation from distant sources.

  • As the electrons accelerate, they throw off an intense field of electromagnetic radiation that is composed mainly of X-rays.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Now, wireless bandwidth appears to be constrained fundamentally by the transparency of air to electromagnetic radiation.

    Blog text (16)
  • They also sample kinds of light, kinds of electromagnetic radiation that humans don't see.

  • Light emissions by fireflies are signals of information conveyed by electromagnetic radiation through the atmosphere.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Colorimetry is the measurement of the wavelength and intensity of electromagnetic radiation in the visible region of the light spectrum.

    Academic text (2013)
  • All electromagnetic radiation travels at the speed of light in a vacuum.

Synonyms

electromagnetic wave
vselectromagnetic radiation
  • Specialized
4 4.2

A wave of energy made of changing electric and magnetic fields that travels at the speed of light

is energy emitted by accelerating charged particles rather than only the moving wave
radiant energy
vselectromagnetic radiation
  • Specialized
1 5.0

Power that travels through space as light or radio waves

is energy from accelerating charged particles, stressing the emission origin
nonparticulate radiation
vselectromagnetic radiation
  • Specialized
7.0

Waves of energy like light or X-rays that carry energy not matter

is energy produced by accelerating charged particles rather than defined by form

How Energetic

gamma ray
  • Specialized
21 4.2
X-ray
  • Specialized
99 3.2
ultraviolet
  • Specialized
24 5.8
electromagnetic radiation
  • Specialized
7 4.2
visible light
  • Specialized
10 3.4
infrared
  • Specialized
5 4.8
radio wave
  • Specialized
19 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

electromagnetic + radiation

The noun phrase is a straightforward composition of 'electromagnetic' (involving magnetism from moving electric charges) and 'radiation' (energy emitted as rays/waves), so the meaning — radiation associated with electric and magnetic fields — is directly derivable from the parts. Although somewhat technical, the adjective+noun pattern is standard and cross-linguistically comparable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the combined meaning.

Etymology

Electromagnetic radiation is a name that gives a simple picture: 'electric' and 'magnetic' parts move together and send out 'waves' of 'energy' through space, like visible light, radio waves and X-rays. So the name shows why light and X-rays are called electromagnetic radiation — they are energy 'waves' made from moving electric and magnetic parts.