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T3B12

RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION · Electromagnetic wave properties: wavelength vs frequency, nature and velocity of electromagnetic waves, relationship of wavelength and frequency; Electromagnetic spectrum definitions: UHF, VHF, HF

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Which of these frequencies travels at the highest velocity in free space?

  1. AMicrowaves
  2. BUHF
  3. CVHF
  4. DAll radio frequencies travel at the same velocity
Why In free space, every electromagnetic wave travels at the speed of light, about 300,000,000 meters per second (3 x 10^8 m/s), regardless of frequency. Frequency and wavelength change together so that their product always equals that constant speed: wavelength (meters) = 300 / frequency (MHz). Nothing about being microwave, UHF, or VHF makes a wave move faster or slower in a vacuum.
Watch out Picking microwaves confuses high frequency with high speed; microwaves have shorter wavelengths and more cycles per second, but each cycle still propagates at c.
Higher frequency means shorter wavelength, not faster travel. In space, everything runs at 300,000,000 m/s.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
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The rest of T3B

  1. T3B01 What is the relationship between the electric and magnetic fields of an electromagnetic wave?
  2. T3B02 What property of a radio wave defines its polarization?
  3. T3B03 What are the two components of a radio wave?
  4. T3B04 What is the velocity of a radio wave traveling through free space?
  5. T3B05 What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency?
  6. T3B06 What is the formula for converting frequency to approximate wavelength in meters?
  7. T3B07 In addition to frequency, which of the following is used to identify amateur radio bands?
  8. T3B08 What frequency range is referred to as VHF?
  9. T3B09 What frequency range is referred to as UHF?
  10. T3B10 What frequency range is referred to as HF?
  11. T3B11 What is the approximate velocity of a radio wave in free space?
  12. T3B12 Which of these frequencies travels at the highest velocity in free space?
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