Science Common Sense

635 - What is electromagnetic radiation, and how does it relate to electricity?

Electromagnetic radiation is a type of energy that is all around us. It's made up of waves, like the waves you see in a pool of water, but these waves are invisible.

There are many kinds of electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves, microwaves, light, and X-rays. They all have different lengths and strengths.

When electricity flows through a wire, it creates a type of electromagnetic radiation called an electromagnetic field. This field is like an invisible bubble around the wire, and it's what makes your phone and other devices work.

In simple terms, electricity creates electromagnetic radiation, and electromagnetic radiation can also create electricity. This is how many devices like radios and phones work, by sending and receiving electromagnetic waves.

Think of it like this: when you send a text message, your phone converts the message into electromagnetic waves (radio waves), and those waves travel through the air to the nearest cell tower, which then sends them to the receiver's phone.