Which term refers to energy that travels in transverse waves and does not require a medium?

• A. Amplitude
• B. Reflection
• C. Electromagnetic Radiation
• D. Transmission

Answer: (C)

The energy type being described is electromagnetic radiation, which travels as transverse waves and can move through empty space. These waves have oscillating electric and magnetic fields perpendicular to the direction of travel, so they don’t need a material medium to carry energy—sunlight, radio waves, and X-rays all reach us through the vacuum of space. This sets it apart from mechanical waves that require a medium to propagate. The other terms refer to a wave’s size (amplitude), a wave bouncing off surfaces (reflection), or the general process of energy moving through a medium (transmission), none of which define the energy form that can travel without a medium.