# How Electromagnetic Waves Work

By Ishvinder Sethi

Topic: Physics & Chemistry

[Open the interactive Jig](https://ask.jig.com/j/lSgEopUS98TF)

## Guide

### 1. A wave of energy

This tower sends out an electromagnetic wave: a red electric wiggle and a blue magnetic wiggle\. Together they carry energy, even through empty space\.

Slide to wiggle faster\. Faster wiggles make shorter waves\.

### 2. One big wave family

Radio, microwaves, light and X\-rays are the same kind of wave in different sizes\. They all zoom at the speed of light\!

Light could go around the Earth 7 times in one second\.

### 3. A wave maker in the kitchen

A microwave oven is a wave maker\. Press Start: electricity flows to the magnetron, which sends microwaves down a metal tunnel into the box\.

Its waves are about as long as your hand\.

### 4. Wiggly water gets hot

The waves bounce off the metal walls, and water in the soup spins back and forth billions of times a second\. All that jiggling makes heat\!

The glass plate turns so the soup heats evenly\.

### 5. A window with tiny holes

The door's metal screen has holes much smaller than microwaves, so they bounce back inside\. Light waves are tiny, so they get out and you can see your food\.

Opening the door switches the waves off at once\.

### 6. Waves all around you

Sunlight, radio and phone calls are electromagnetic waves too\. Tap the Start button or the door to play with the oven again\!