What Are Some Disadvantages of Radio Waves?
One of the disadvantages of radio waves is that they cannot transmit a lot of data simultaneously because they’re low frequency. In addition, continued exposure to large amounts of radio waves can cause health disorders like leukemia and cancer. Despite these setbacks, technicians have effectively achieved enormous breakthroughs. For example, astronauts use radio waves to transmit information from space to Earth and vice versa.
Radio waves are a category of electromagnetic radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths that are longer than infrared light. The frequency of radio waves ranges from 3 kHz to 300 GHz. Just like all other types of electromagnetic waves, they travel at the speed of light in a vacuum. They are most commonly used in mobile radio communication, computer networks, communication satellites, navigation, radar and broadcasting. The International Telecommunications Union is the authority that regulates the use of radio waves. It has stipulations to control users in the pursuit to avoid interference. It works in coordination with other international and national authorities to ensure the adherence to safe practices. Radio waves were discovered in 1867 by James Clerk Maxwell. Today, studies have enhanced what humans understand about radio waves. Learning properties such as polarization, reflection, refraction, diffraction and absorption has enabled scientists to develop useful technology based on the phenomena.
