2006-09-12 19:13:11 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
They CAN travel at the speed of light. Radio waves are an example of electromagnetic waves (other examples include light, microwaves and x-rays) can all travel at the speed of light.
However, their actual speed (called the propagation velocity) depends on two variables. One is called permeability and the other is called permittivity. Each variable's value depends on the material that the waves are traveling through. Basically, you can think of the variables as how "easy" it is for electic fields and magnetic fields to travel through the medium. If the waves are traveling in free space, they will always travel at the speed of light. Otherwise, the waves will travel slower.
2006-09-12 19:32:21 · answer #1 · answered by steve23063 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Radio Wave Speed
2016-12-15 18:41:58 · answer #2 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speed Of Radio Waves
2016-10-04 21:29:05 · answer #3 · answered by cris 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Radio waves, like all forms of electromagnetic waves, travel at the speed of light. Unlike the speed of sound that changes depending on the substance through which the sound wave travels, the speed of light is a constant
2006-09-12 19:14:56 · answer #4 · answered by Derek 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging from 3Hz to 3GHz(3,000,000,000Hz). Their speed of propagation in vacuum is equal to the speed of light "c" and this speed is the same for all electromagnetic waves including microwaves, infrared, ultravioler and visible light.
However the propagation velocity changes according to the material that the radio wave is travelling through. Thus every material has a velocity factor eg. a standard coaxial radio transmission line used to connect a radio transmitter with the antenna is around 0.66. Thus the radio wave would travel inside this cable 44% slower than the speed of light.
2006-09-12 20:06:19 · answer #5 · answered by Sporadic 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Do radio waves travel at the speed of light?
2015-08-07 08:05:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both radio waves and light are electromagnetic waves.So they travel in the same speed.
The product of the frequency and wavelength of electromagnetic waves is a constant. Though both light and radio waves have different wavelength and frequencies,their product is always the same,which is equal to the sped of light.
So not just radio waves,all the electromagnetic waves travel in the speed of light.
2006-09-12 19:22:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Radio waves constitute a narrow band within the Electromagnetic Spectrum ES that includes light, radio, TV, cell phones, xrays, microwave and many others. The entire ES travels at the "speed of light" 186,000 miles per second. As the attached article explains, the difference is in the wavelength, frequency and energy.
2006-09-12 19:26:35 · answer #8 · answered by Jim 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Radio waves and light are parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. They travel at the same speed.
2006-09-12 19:22:48 · answer #9 · answered by RG 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Radio waves, visible light waves, gamma rays, x-rays, infrared light, and ultraviolet light are all types of electromagmetic radiation. They all travel at the same speed, being the speed of light. All these waves travel fastest in a vacuum and travel only slightly slower in the atmosphere. The variation in speed in differing media is what causes refraction.
2006-09-12 19:23:44 · answer #10 · answered by Pretzels 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋