Are electromagnetic waves longitudinal or transverse?

Answer 1

light waves or electromagnetic waves are transverse and sound waves are longitudinal

Electromagnetic waves can be both transverse and longitudinal waves. Transverse waves are like ocean waves. They move the medium perpendicular to the medium which is the substance the wave is traveling on. Longitudinal waves are like a slinky. They compress and rarefact (The coils get close and move away). Longitudinal waves move the medium parallel to the energy.

Electromagnetic waves don't need a medium to travel. They can travel on the medium but they don't need a medium to travel through.

Mechanical waves need a medium to travel. They can't travel without one.

That is why in starwars when the deathstar blows up and your whole room shakes when it does isn't possible because in space there isn't any air! Sound is a mechanical wave, since there isn't any medium there can't be any sound. If you yell in space nothing would happen because there isn't a medium for the sound waves to travel on. You can see light in space because light is an example of an electromagnetic wave which doesn't need a medium to travel.

Cranberryhead. :)

Answer 2

em waves are transverse in nature. the electric and magnetic field vectors are perpendicular to the direction of propagation of waves.

Electromagnetic waves in pure vacuum are transverse, but in a plasma (ionized gas) electromagnetic waves can occur as transverse or longitudinal.