Electromagnetic Waves

Electromagnetic (EM) Spectrum

The continuous range of electromagnetic waves arranged in order of frequency or wavelength.

Radio Waves

Are the longest of all electromagnetic waves, ranging from 10^-1 to 10^4 m. The frequency of radio waves ranges from 3.0x10^4 to 3.0x10^12 Hz or from 30 kHz to 3000 MHz. This frequency range is divided into specific bands for wireless communication.

Radar

Is an acronym for radio detection and ranging. It makes use of radio waves for the detection of objects, weather forecasting, military surveillance, and air traffic control, as well as monitoring speed in highway patrol and tracking satellites and debris.

Heinrich Hertz

The one who discovered radio waves.

Microwaves

Lies somewhere between 3x10^8 Hz and 3x10^11 Hz, which is from 300 MHz to 300 GHz, with a wavelength ranging from 10^-3 to 10^-1 m. James Clerk Maxwell discovered these in 1864.

They are mainly used for communication, especially those with frequencies from 2 to 40 GHz. They were mostly used for long-distance telephone calls before the introduction of fiber optics. They are also used to send signals for cable television, as well as video or audio feeds from production vans to broadcast stations.

James Clerk Maxwell

The one who discovered microwaves

Infrared Rays

The frequency of this ranges from 3×10^11 to 4×10^14Hz, with a wavelength ranging from 7.5x10^-7 to 10^-3 m. Sir William Herschel, a British astronomer, discovered these waves in 1800. This cannot be seen by the naked eye but it can be felt as heat.

These are used in television remote controls, burglar alarm systems, night vision cameras, and certain types of thermometer. Most computers, laptops, and printers are equipped with infrared data association ports for wireless data transfer and printing. Food can also be cooked using this.

Sir William Herschel

The one who discovered infrared rays

Visible Light

The range of 4x10^14 to 8x10^14 Hz with corresponding wavelengths of 4x10^-7 to 8x10^-7 m are the only ones seen by the naked eye.

It helps you see objects. It is also used in traffic lights, commercial displays, car headlights, and taillights. Every device that has a viewable screen, such as televisions and touchpad devices, makes use of this. It is also used by plants in photosynthesis.

Isaac Newton

The one who discovered Visible Light

Ultraviolet Radiation

Frequencies ranging from 8x10^14 to 10^17 Hz. This is more popularly known as UV, and it was discovered by German physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter. They have wavelengths ranging from 6x10^-10 to 4x10^-7 m.

UVA

has a wavelength range of 315 to 400 nm;

UVB

280 nm to 314 nm

UVC

from 60 to 279 nm.

Johann Wilhelm Ritter.

The one who discovered Ultraviolet Radiation

X-Rays

is sometimes called Roentgen ray, in honor of its discoverer, German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen. Since the letter x is normally used to represent an unknown quantity, Roentgen called the rays x because he did not know their nature and origin then. He was awarded the 1901 Nobel Prize in Physics for his accidental discovery of X-rays.

Classified as either soft or hard, X-rays have wavelengths ranging from 10^-12 to 10^-8 m.

Diffraction

To study the arrangement of atoms in a crystal in a process

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.

The founder of X-Rays

Gamma Rays

Are given off by radioactive elements such as cobalt-60 and cesium-137. Astronomical obiects such as the sun. interstellar clouds, and remnants of supernovae are sources of gamma rays.

Gamma rays are highly penetrating because of their very short wavelengths, ranging from less than 10^-14 to 10^-10 m. Paul Villard, a French chemist and physicist discovered gamma rays in 1900.

The industrial applications of these include detecting cracks in metals and sterilizing equipment and commercial products. Noncontact industrial sensors using gamma sources are employed in the refining, mining, chemical, food, and soap and detergent industries, as well as pulp and paper industries to control volume levels, density, and thickness. Food irradiation using these  kills bacteria, insects, and parasites that can cause foodborne diseases. In agriculture, gamma radiation helps breed new seed varieties with higher yields.

Radiotherapy

are used to destroy cancer cells in a process

Brachytherapy

In internal radiotherapy, radiation comes from implants or liquids placed inside the body.