26 November 2020

Difference Between Electromagnetic Wave and Matter Wave

The electromagnetic and matter waves are the two out of three major categories in which waves are classified. The main significant difference between electromagnetic wave ad matter waves is that electromagnetic waves are composed of electric and magnetic field components. As a matter wave, no such field component exists. So here this article gives the main key difference between electromagnetic wave ad matter-wave to better understand this topic.

Definition of an electromagnetic wave:

Electromagnetic waves also called the EM wave, it is an outcome of the oscillating electric ad magnetic field. basically, the electromagnetic wave is composed of electric and magnetic fields, and their vibration causes the generation of electromagnetic waves.

Definition of matter-wave:

Matter waves are associated with moving particles and they are the result of the motion of the electron, proton and neutron, and other fundamental particles along with atoms and molecules. As its major constituent is matter hence it is known as matter waves.

Difference between electromagnetic waves and matter waves:

  • The electromagnetic wave has easily and a magnetic field associated with them, while matter-wave has no electric and magnetic associated with them.
  • An electromagnetic wave originates in general from a source in space, for example, accelerated charges radiate electromagnetic waves, while in matter waves show existence with respect to the fundamental material particles, for example, electron, proton, neutron including atoms, and molecules.
  • Electromagnetic waves can easily pass through the vacuum, While matter waves cannot pass through the vacuum.
  • An electromagnetic wave can easily propagate through a vacuum in order to transmit the signal from one point to another, while the propagation of matter-wave through free space is not possible as an appropriate medium is required for matter-wave to travel.
  • Electromagnetic waves the rays emitted from a source in space, while in matter waves are associated with material particles, they do not exist without material particles.
  • Electromagnetic waves can easily pass through the vacuum, while matter-wave has velocities less than the velocity of light and depend on the situation.
  • In electromagnetic waves, the energies of quantized, while in matter waves energies of not quantized.
  • The wavelength of Electromagnetic waves can e measured easily, while in matter-wave wavelength cannot e measured easily.
  • Radio waves and electron beam are the two major examples of electromagnetic waves and matter-wave, respectively.

Explore more information:
  1. Difference between an electric and magnetic field
  2. Difference between the electromagnet and permanent magnet
  3. Difference between the magnetic field and magnetic flux
  4. Difference between static and current electricity
  5. Difference between stationary and progressive waves