How do radios use the behavior and characteristics of the electromagnetic wave to function?

Like all other electromagnetic waves, radio waves travel at the speed of light in vacuum. Naturally occurring radio waves are emitted by lightning and astronomical objects. Radio waves are generated artificially by transmitters and received by radio receivers, using antennas.

Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum ... You can tune a radio to a specific wavelength-or frequency-and listen to your favorite music. The radio "receives" these electromagnetic radio waves and converts them to mechanical vibrations in the speaker to create the sound waves you can hear.