Electromagnetic Spectrum

Ch. 15

By: Muhammad Ali Rathore

 Electromagnetic Waves
• Waves that consists of
oscillating electric and
magnetic fields.
• These do not require a
medium for motion/
propagation.
• These are transverse waves
because electric field,
magnetic field and motion (or
propagation) of waves all are
perpendicular to each other.
• They also transfer energy
from one place to another.
Properties of all Electromagnetic Waves
• All electromagnetic waves are transverse waves i.e. they move
perpendicular to their oscillating electric and magnetic fields.
• All electromagnetic waves are medium independent i.e. they
can move with or without a medium.
• All electromagnetic waves are neutral waves they carry no charge.
• All electromagnetic waves travel in vacuum or air with same
constant speed equal to 3.0 × 108 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠 which is denoted by
symbol c.
• All electromagnetic waves obeys laws of waves motion like
reflection, refraction, diffraction etc.
• All electromagnetic waves follow the wave equation 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑓𝑓 × λ.
• Every type of electromagnetic wave has its own Wavelength and
Frequency (or Energy) from which one can differ between their
type.
 Electromagnetic Spectrum
• There are seven types of electromagnetic Types of Order of Order of
waves. The group of these electromagnetic Electromagnetic Wavelength Frequency
Wave (m) (Hz)
waves is called Electromagnetic Spectrum.
103 104
• Electromagnetic Spectrum shows the 1. Radio Waves

range of all these seven

2. Microwaves 10−2 108
electromagnetic waves with respect to
their wavelengths and frequency (or 3. Infrared 10−5 1012
energy). 4. Visible 0.4 − 0.8 × 10−6 1015
• The list of all electromagnetic waves in 5. Ultraviolet 10−8 1016
the electromagnetic spectrum along
with their wavelength and frequency 6. X-Ray 10−10 1018
orders is shown: 7. Gamma Ray 10−12 1020
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Low Wavelength High
e nergy (meters) energy
105 10 10- 3 10- s 10- 15

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• ••
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... (,, · ('Q'
• • ....,. • •+' •
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Y,t. ,t. 0
()04, ",11
"I' d'

Visib

,\ =
700 650 600 550 500 450 400 nm
750 Viole!
Red
Copyright© 2006 Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc.
 Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
1. Radio Waves:
• Radio waves are used to broadcast radio and TV signals. These waves
are sent out from an aerial (transmitter) a few kilometers away and
captured also by an aerial on the roof of a house.
• Local TV and radio stations use short wavelength (FM) radio waves to
transmit their signals of sound and picture. These waves have a
relatively short range. These waves pass through the ionosphere of
earth.
• Longer wavelength radio waves (AM) can bounce off the ionosphere
so can be used to communicate over greater distances like in aero
planes, ships, space etc. They diffract around the hills and buildings.
 Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
2. Microwaves:
• They are used in microwave ovens, mobile pones and in satellite TV
broadcasting as they can travel thousands of kilometers in space.
• In microwave oven, the micro waves energy is absorbed mainly by
water molecules in food which began to oscillate and heats up
the food.
• Microwaves are used to send communication signals to satellites and
then back to earth. They are also used in mobile phone
communication. This is because they travel with minimum
distractions or losses and also that their dispersion is minimum.
• Microwaves are also used in radar system to detect the speed and
location of the objects.
 Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
3. Infrared Waves:
• Infrared causes heat radiation. All hot objects emit infrared radiation.
Cooking and heating by electric heater, toaster and grill are done
using infrared waves.
• Remote controls for TV or other devices also use infrared waves to
send signal to the device for particular instructions.
• Infrared is also used as a detector in intruder alarms like
automatic switches and security systems.
4. Visible Light:
• Used for vision or viewing things around us.
• Used by plants for photosynthesis.
 Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
5. Ultraviolet:
• Usually emitted by very hot objects like sun or other stars.
• Used to sterilize surgical instruments because they kill bacteria.
• Can be used to identify fake currency notes.
• Used in suntan or sunbed lamps to stimulate the production of
vitamin D in human body.
Disadvantages of Ultraviolet Rays:
• Disadvantages of using ultraviolet over a longer period of time are
damage to eye, skin cells and in severe cases causing skin cancer.
 Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
6. X-Rays:
• These are high energetic electromagnetic waves produced by
high accelerating electrons.
• They can pass through skin and muscle tissues but not through bones.
Hence they are used for medical purposes to view and diagnose
internal structures and organs e.g. bone fractures.
• They are also used in security scanners at airports to check luggage
and suitcases.
• They are also used in radiation therapy to kill cancer cells.
Disadvantages of X-Rays:
• They have high energy and can damage human tissues and organs. People
working near these sources must be extra cautious otherwise they may
be exposed too much to X-rays which may cause cancer.
 Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
7. Gamma Rays:
• Extremely energetic rays that are emitted by the nuclei/
radioactive elements. They are more penetrating than X-rays.
• They are used to kill harmful bacteria in food or in hospital bedding.
• They are also used for sterilization of medical, surgical and barber
instruments.
• These are used in radiation therapy to kill cancer cells. They have high
energy so they can burn the molecules to which they are exposed to.
Disadvantages of Gamma-Rays:
• They can penetrate human body and cause damage to living
cells resulting in various diseases like cancer and mutation.
 Radiation Hazards
• Over exposure to radiations like X-rays, gamma rays and even
microwaves can cause serious damages to humans.
• Care must be taken to ensure minimum exposure to these radiations
and avoid unnecessary exposure to these.
• People working near these radiation sources like x-ray machines,
telephone exchanges etc. should use proper radiation absorbing
materials like metal cases, radiation suites to block these radiations to
reach human body.
• The machines must be designed to ensure that there is no leakage of
these radiations or these radiations are only used in specific area or
region. E.g. microwave oven have a thick glass window to make sure
microwaves do not come out of oven and expose human body.
 Dispersion of Light
• The splitting of light into its constituent colors is called dispersion of
light. This can be done by passing light through a prism which
separates all the seven colors of light on a screen.
 Double Refraction in Dispersion
Glass prism
Glass prism

Incident
Incident white light
light1 Red
(760 nm)
Pure i
Violet
(380
(a) (b) nm)
Formation of Rainbow
Formation of Rainbow