Physical communication media include guided media like twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable that provide a conduit for signals, as well as unguided wireless media like radio waves, microwaves, and infrared waves that transport electromagnetic signals through the air. Guided media are used for longer distances while wireless is used for broadcasting and short-range communication. Each media type has distinct properties regarding frequency range, line-of-sight requirements, and propagation method that determine their applications.