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One can say that radio waves are a million times bigger than light, but one needs to be a little more specific about what you mean when you say it.
When we speak of the size of a wave, we usually refer to its amplitude or wavelength and in this case, wavelength seems to be relevant to the question.
Radio waves and light are both electromagnetic waves and the two terms refer to different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Visible light has wavelengths of a few hundred nanometers, although one can expand that region somewhat beyond the visible and still find that the term "light" is used.
Radio waves are much longer and generally the spectral region which we call radio is in the ball park of a meter. (It is not uncommon to apply the term radio waves to much longer wavelengths however.)
Though there is not one specific measure of "size," radio waves generally have a wavelength of a million times greater that light waves.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoBoth AM and FM can be used at any desired frequency.
Concerning the commercial broadcast services that you hear on the radio in your
home or your car, the frequencies allocated to FM stations in the US are higher
than the frequencies allocated to AM stations.
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The bandwidth of FM doesn't need to be any greater than the bandwidth
of AM, so long as the modulation index is kept small ... the mode known
as "Narrow Band FM". The second answer, between the dashed lines, is
correct, in that a larger bandwidth of baseband information requires a larger
occupied bandwidth after modulation.
But the original question isn't probing the subject to that depth. It's asking either
one of two things: 1). "Does the AM or FM process require a higher carrier frequency ?", or
2). "Do the AM or the FM stations on my radio have the higher carrier frequency ?"
The answer above the first dashed line answers both of those.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThere's no connection between the wavelength of a radio wave and the way
it's been modulated to add information to it.
Speaking only about comercial broadcasting stations in the USA, AM stations
operate at longer wavelengths than FM stations do. But that's just the way
they happen to be assigned; it could just as well be the other way around.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe wavelength is not connected with the type of modulation. Any radio wave
at any frequency/wavelength can be modulated with either process.
In commercial broadcasting, FM stations are assigned higher frequency / shorter wavelength
allocations than AM stations are.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoNo. It is not true. It is false, and if anybody tries to tell you
that it's true, kindly ask him to come see me.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is a radio wave?
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves. The radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. A radio wave has a much longer wavelength than does visible light. We use radio waves extensively for communications.
Which characteristic is common to microwaves radio waves and television waves?
They are all radio waves with frequencies lower than visible light.
Is Radio waves are shorter than waves of visible light?
Yes, radio waves have a longer wavelength than visible light. They are part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Do radio waves travel at the speed of sound at the speed of light or at some speed in between?
'Radio' waves are physically and electrically identical to light waves except for their frequency (wavelength), and they travel at the same speed as light does.
What has longer wavelength radio waves or visible light?
Neither is nesesarily longer a wave can go on forever. Visible light is more reflective than infared light so it will last longer. If you are talking about wavelength, infared lights wavelength is longer.
Why the radio waves are similar to light waves but not sound wavesexplain?
Radio and light waves are electromagnetic waves, sound waves are not.
What is the difference between a radio telescope and a light telescope?
radio telescope detects radio waves and a light telescope views light waves.
Why is light radio waves and microwave ovens related?
Light waves, radio waves, and microwaves are all on the electromagnetic spectrum.
What wavelengths are longer than light but shorter than radio waves?
Infrared light, microwaves and radio waves have wavelengths longer than visible light. Radio waves have the longest wavelength.
Are radio waves a form of sound or light?
When you listen to the radio, you are hearing sound, which has no resemblance to light, radio waves, or x-rays. However, the sounds you hear are created in the radio receiver, using information that was carried to your location by means of radio waves.
Which have longer wavelength radio waves or light waves?
Radio waves have a far longer wavelength than visible light. The radio waves that do the cooking in your microwave oven are as long as roughly 310,000 waves of blue light placed end-to-end. The radio waves transmitted by an AM station at 1400kHz on your AM dial are roughly 550 billion times as long as blue-light waves.
How are light waves different than radio waves?
Light waves are the wavelengths that register on our visual receptors. Radio waves have a much longer wavelength and not as much energy.
How can radio telescopes be improved?
the radio waves be improved by using the bigger signals
How come light travels in straight lines but radio waves spread out?
Light and Radio Waves are both forms of Electromagnetic radiation, and propagate at c (that is, the speed of light, 3*10^8m/s). Both light and radio waves can travel in straight lines, or by spreading out, depending on how they are made. For example, a radio dish and a light bulb can both spread out light and radio waves in 360 degrees.
What has the longer wavelengths light waves or radio waves?
Radio, radio is around 10^3 m and visible light is around .5 *10^-6 m.
Are infrared rays electromagnet waves that are longer than radio waves but shorter than visible light rays?
Infrared waves are shorter than radio waves and longer than visible light waves.
What is a radio wave?
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves. The radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. A radio wave has a much longer wavelength than does visible light. We use radio waves extensively for communications.
