The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is an essential, and invisible, part of modern life—so much so that we often forget how much we depend on it. We unlock our cars and change our television channels using remote controls, keep in touch with smart phones and wireless computer networks, and depend on EM sensors to avoid collisions whether driving in a car or flying in a passenger plane. The EM spectrum is also essential to modern warfare. On the battlefield our military forces use radios and satellite communications to coordinate operations and order supplies, use radars and infrared sensors to locate the enemy (and each other) and use electronic jammers to blind enemy radars or cut off communications.
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