Question

What do you understand by the statement "electromagnetic waves transport momentum"

Answer 1

Yes they do.

The total energy according to the theory of relativity is given by

E^2 = (pc)^2 + (mc^2)^2, you can curse Einstein for this relation.

as em waves have no mass (m =0), there energy is just ‘pc’. that is, momemtum times speed of light. Hence their momentum is given by

p = E/c

and for frequency ‘f’, it is

p = hf/c

h is plank’s constant.

HOPE IT HELP YOU

Answer 2

it means that the electromagnetic waves carries Momentum and energy while propagating through medium from one place to another .