How do electromagnetic waves travel through space that contains no matter?

Answer 1

Yes, all electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum. (i.e space)

(a note, sound waves are not part of the EM spectrum and cannot travel through a vacuum, because they rely on causing vibrations/movement of mass, which is not present in empty space.)

Answer 2

I'm assuming you don't want too specific of an answer, because this is a question physicists still talk about.

Essentially, an electromagnetic wave is a series of photons (packets of electromagnetism) traveling together like a wave. They can travel through empty space because they are, in a way, their own median.

Answer 3

As the name suggests, electromagnetic waves are not matter waves, rather, they propagate through changes in the electric and magnetic fields in space. An electric or magnetic field can penetrate empty space without any problem.

Answer 4

'Why' is not a science question.

Answer2:

Space is not empty. Space has resistance z = 375 Ohms which is related to Planck's Constant. Space contains electric C and magnetic W charge, such that h= CW and z = W/C. C = 4/3 atto Coulombs and W = 500 atto Webers.

Answer 3:

Space does not have resistance and does not contain electric charge, and there is no such thing as magnetic charge. Charged bodies and other matter can exist in space, otherwise space is empty. When an electromagnetic wave travels through, the wave is carried in electric and magnetic fields.

The free-space wave impedance is equal to mu0 * c, where mu0 is the permeability of free space, 4pi*10**(-7) H/m and c is the speed of light 2.99792458E8 m/s (it is not related to Planck's constant).

How can free-space have an impedance when it is empty? what the impedance really is is the ratio between the electric and magnetic field intensities, so when the fields are there it isn't empty, it's got the fields in :)

Answer 4:

It may sound like a lousy explanation, but it is possible because there is no reason for it not to be possible. Alternating magnetic and electric fields can propagate according to Maxwell, and there is no reason to believe they need any medium (except maybe analogy with sound).

allow me to add to this answer.

the previous writer tried describing this in how light may travel as a wave through space, but lets remember that electromagnetic radiation, which is light, has a duel nature as both a wave and a particle either called photons or quanta. photons which are particles can flow through space just like meteors can, which needs no medium, in fact, its easier for light to travel through space because there is nothing that can get in the photons way.

Answer 5

The speed of the waves can be calculated from the electrical and magnetic properties of space - using Maxwell's equations. But basically, the reason that they move fast is because no normal matter needs to be moved. It is only the electric and magnetic fields of space that change - and those can propagate pretty fast.

Answer 6

Because EM waves give off energy as they travel in all directions.