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Waves

Electromagnetic Waves - Radio Waves.

Radio waves are used for broadcasting radio and TV programmes.
The transmitted information may be analogue or digital
and uses a radio wave as a carrier.

Very long wavelength radio waves can travel around the Earth
despite its curvature, diffracting around the Earth's surface.
These are sometimes called ground waves.

Medium wavelength radio waves are reflected from an electrically charged
region of the Earth's atmosphere called the ionosphere.
These waves are sometimes called sky waves
and can also be sent from one part of the planet to another.

Shorter wavelength radio waves pass straight through the atmosphere
and cannot be used to send information around the Earth's curvature.
These waves are sometimes called space waves
and can be used to send information in a straight line
across the Earth's surface.

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Copyright © 2007 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.