Electromagnetic waves are propagated by periodic variations of electric and magnetic fields and include radio waves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. An activity demonstrates that a magnetic field is produced around a coil of insulated copper wire when electric current passes through it, similar to how water waves are created by a disturbance in water. Electromagnetic waves travel at the speed of light in vacuum, do not require a medium, are transverse waves, and have a wide range of frequencies that interact differently with matter.