Which is not a true statement concerning electromagnetic radiation?
It travels through space at 3.0 x 1010 cm/s.
It travels in a straight line.
It has the fastest speed possible in nature.
The sun is a source of it.
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight.[1] Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz. In physics, the term light sometimes refers to electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength, whether visible or not.
To determine which statement is not true concerning electromagnetic radiation, we need to evaluate each statement individually.
1. "It travels through space at 3.0 x 10^10 cm/s."
To verify this statement, we can refer to the speed of light, which is the speed at which electromagnetic radiation, including visible light, travels in a vacuum. The accepted value for the speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 3.0 x 10^8 meters per second. To convert this value to centimeters per second, we multiply by 100 (since there are 100 centimeters in a meter), giving us 3.0 x 10^10 cm/s. Therefore, this statement is true.
2. "It travels in a straight line."
Electromagnetic radiation behaves like waves and can exhibit properties such as diffraction and interference. These properties indicate that it does not always travel in a straight line. Therefore, this statement is false.
3. "It has the fastest speed possible in nature."
According to the theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light in a vacuum. Since electromagnetic radiation, including light, travels at the speed of light, this statement is true.
4. "The sun is a source of it."
The sun emits electromagnetic radiation across a wide range of frequencies, from radio waves to gamma rays. This radiation is how the sun's energy reaches us on Earth. Therefore, this statement is true.
Based on the evaluation, the statement "It travels in a straight line" is not true concerning electromagnetic radiation.