They are all transverse waves that transfer energy from a source to an absorber
All EM waves travel at the speed of light through air or a vacuum (space)
Transfer energy
made by oscillating charges
They produce oscillating electric and magnetic fields (electromagnetic waves)
frequency of waves will be equal to the frequency of the alternating current
They are absorbed
Energy is transferred to the electrons in the material
Causes electrons to oscillate
They have the longest wave length
Long wave lengths diffract (bend) around curved surfaces of the Earth, they can diffract over hills, into tunnels
Makes it possible for radio waves to be received even if receiver isn’t in a line of sight of the transmitter
frequency modulation
Have short wavelengths
Must be in direct sight of transmitter, signal doesn’t bend or travel through buildings
satellites
Microwave ovens
microwaves can pass easily through the Earth’s watery atmosphere
Signal from transmitter is transmitted into space
Satellite receiver dish picks it up, whilst orbiting thousands of km above Earth, it transmits signal back to Earth in a different direction
Received by a satellite dish on the ground, there’s a time delay between transmitter and receiver due to the long distance
microwaves are absorbed by water molecules in food
water molecules transfer energy to the rest of the molecules in the food by heating, this quickly cooks the food
increase temperature
Monitor temperature
Eg. infrared camera, electric heaters, foods can be cooked
hot objects
The hotter the object, the more IR radiation is given out
used to detect and monitor IR radiation
Turns it into an electrical signal, that’s displayed on a screen as a picture, hotter the object, the brighter it appears
contain long piece of wire, heats up as current flows through
Wire emits lots of IR radiation (and visible light, glows)
Emitted IR radiation is absorbed by objects and air in the room
Energy is transferred by IR waves to thermal energy stores of the objects, causing temperature to increase
Light we can see
It’s made up of a range of colours
photography
Illumination
A range of wavelengths that we perceive as different colours
Each colour has its own narrow range of wavelengths and frequencies
Colours can mix together to make other colours (can’t mix primary colours)
a property of certain chemicals
UV radiation is absorbed, visible light is emitted (giving you brightness)
Can be used to identify forged bank notes
security pens
Suntans
under UV light the ink will glow (fluorescent)
Invisible without UV light
Can help police identify property if stolen
tanning salons use UV lamps to give artificial suntan
They have hazardous properties (used to kill bacteria)
too look/identify broken bones
Tests for cancer (along with hammer rays)
they can easily pass through flesh
Can’t pass through denser material (bones, or metal)
wear lead aprons
Stand behind a lead screen
Leave the room
can damage surface cells (sunburn)
Cause skin to age prematurely
Blindness or increase risk of skin cancer
they are types of ionising radiation
Can cause gene mutation (cancer)
Can lead to secondary cancer