science electromagnetic spectrum

What is the electromagnetic spectrum

It is the full range of all types of electromagnetic radiation. We only see a small part of the spectrum which is the all the colours of the rainbow.

How is the electromagnetic spectrum organised

It is organised from the lowest energy waves to the highest energy waves. They are organised by frequency and sound waves.

How is the electromagnetic spectrum arranged

They are organised from increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength. From radio waves, low frequency long wavelength, to gamma rays high frequency and short wavelength

Longitudinal waves

A wave in which the particles move parallel to the direction the wave travels. It causes compressions and rarefactions.

Transverse waves

A type of wave where the motion of the particles is perpendicular at a 90 degree angle to the direction the wave is travelling. It creates crests and troughs

Electromagnetic waves

They are transverse waves. They are different because they do not require a medium to travel through. They can travel through space.

Radio waves

3 kilohertz to 300 gigahertz frequency

1m wavelength

tv, radio, mobile phones, radar, wifi bluetooth

small rise in body temperature

Microwaves

300 MHz to 300GHz

1x10^-2m

cooking, satellite communication speed camera, to heat up food

internal heating of body tissues

Infrared radiation

300 gigahertz to 400 terahertz

1x10^-4m

electric heaters, tv remote, cooking by grilling

it is felt as heat causes skin to burn

Visible light

400 to 790 terahertz

4x10^-7 to7x10^-7m

seeing, photography, optical fibre communication

light from a laser which is very intense can damage retina at the back of eye

Ultraviolet radiation UV

7.5x10^14 Hz to 3x10^16 Hz

1x10^-8m

suntanning, makes clothes glow, dental filling

damage skins cells and lead to cancer and can damage eyes

X-rays

3x10^16 Hz to 3x10^19 Hz

1x10^-10m

medical images of bones, baggage scanners

Damages cells inside of body which can lead to cancer.

Gamma rays

3x10^19 Hz to higher frequencies

1x10^-12m

killing cancer cells, sterilising medical equipment, killing bacteria

Damage cells inside of body can lead to death and cancer

How different frequencies react

Higher frequencies waves are more dangerous than lower frequency waves because they carry more energy, enough to cause ionisation, which damages tissues and dna. These higher frequencies are gamma rays and x rays and the lower frequencies are radio waves

Examples of electromagnetic spectrum in everyday life

Microwaves, heats food up by using microwaves

X-rays, medical research to see bones and insides of bodies and to scan bags

radio waves, listing to music using mobile phones, television and wifi

How the electromagnetic spectrum is used safely

Dangerous X rays and gamma rays are used safely by protective shielding like lead, limiting exposure and dose, using specialised equipment and strict protocols. This makes the effectiveness of the treatment safe for the paitent and also the doctors, they also stand out of the room when the x or gamma rays are taken because it is more safer for them because they take a lot of x rays.

How are x rays used in medicine

They are used to diagnose people. They take pictures of the bones and organs inside of the body to let the doctors see inside of our body so that are able to diagnose you. It works by the x rays travelling through the body and the different tissues and make different shadows and pictures so you are able to see organs and bones

How are gamma rays used in medicine?

They are used to kill the cancer cells in peoples body's. It uses a gamma knife. It works by using presice gamma rays to treat the disease the cancer. They are mostly used on the brain. The gamma rays send a very intense dose of radiation without needing to make a cut into the body. It destroys the cells so they cannot grow anymore. Using gamma rays is called Radiotherapy.

what is the order of the electromagnetic spectrum

radiowaves

microwaves

infared raditation

visable light

ultraviolet radiation

x rays

gamma rays