the electromagnetic spectrum

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because i always forget :(

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8 Terms

1
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what is an electromagnetic wave

  • transverse wave caused by changing magnetic and electrical fields

  • as you go down the spectrum, wavelength decreases and frequency increases

  • therefore wave speed is always the same 330m/s in air

2
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radio waves

uses

  • used in communication and broadcasting

    • can be long wave (diffracts round curve of earth)

    • can be medium wave (reflects of ionosphere)

    • can be short wave (bluetooth)

  • an alternating current in a transmitter produces a radio wave, which is absorbed by electrons in a receiver, which then alternate and create an alternating current with the same frequency as the radio wave.

3
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microwaves

uses

  • satellite communication

    • travels easily through earth’s watery atmosphere

  • heating

    • microwaves transfer thermal energy to water molecules in food, heating it

  • dangers

    • can heat body cells

4
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infrared radiation

uses

  • ir is given out by all hot objects

  • heating

    • ir is thermal energy so can be used in electrical heaters which transfer ir and therefore heat

  • cooking

    • ir is thermal energy so can be used in toasters which have a heating element that transfers ir (heat) to food

  • dangers

    • too much exposure to ir can cause skin burns and even skin cancer

5
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visible light

uses

  • fibre optic cables

    • transfers data over a long distance in cables with glass lining on inside, that reflect light, and cause the light to bounce back and forth through the cable, without it being scattered or absorbed

  • taking photos and videos

    • cameras are set up to detect visible light

6
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ultraviolet

uses

  • fluorescent lights

    • fluorescent materials absorb uv and emit it as visible light. fluorescent lights produce uv, and are an energy efficient light source

  • security INK

    • BECAUSE IT FLUORESCES WHEN UV IS SHONE ON IT

  • TANNING

  • dangers

    • skin burns and skin cancer

7
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x-rays

uses

  • medical imaging

    • x rays can pass through tissue but not bone, so when x rays are shone onto a body, the xrays that pass through are detected and produce a negative image, showing where bones are

  • radiotherapy

    • in high doses x rays can kill cells, so they can be directed at some cancerous cells, and they will kill them (also kill surrounding healthy cells)

  • dangers

    • ionise atoms in body cells, which can cause mutations is DNAf, that can lead to cancer

8
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gamma rays

uses

  • medical tracers

    • a gamma source can be put in the body, and then detected from outside the body, as gamma can pass through tissue

  • radiotherapy

    • in high doses gamma rays can kill living cells, so they can be directed at cancerous cells to kill them, but will also kill surrounding bodily cells

  • can sterilise medical tools

    • high energy and kill bacteria

  • dangers

    • can ionise atoms in bodily cells, leading to mutations in DNA, which can cause cancer