ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

electromagnetic spectrum

Radio, Microwaves, infrared, visible light, UV, xrays, gamma rays.

RADIO

CHARACTERISTICS:

Low frequency, long wavelength, low energy.

Longest electromagnetic waves, lowest energy.

USES:

Used to transmit data from radio, radar, and satellites, due to its ability to travel from long distances, penetrating through materials making them invisible, and travelling at the speed of light.

• Telecommunications

ETC:

Due to its low energy they are non-ionizing, meaning they don’t have enough energy to remove electrons from atoms.

Produced by charges vibrating back and forth in antennas

MICROWAVES

CHARACTERISTICS:

Low frequency, long wavelength, low energy.

USES:

Also used for the transmission of data from radio, radar, and satellites, due to its ability to travel from long distances, penetrating through materials making them invisible, and travelling at the speed of light. As well as ovens!

• Ovens that work because when heating up food, microwaves are released and absorbed by the food. These electromagnetic waves then collide with the water molecules and causes them to vibrate which heats up the food.

ETC:

Due to its low energy they are non-ionizing, meaning they don’t have enough energy to remove electrons from atoms.

Produced by charges vibrating back and forth in antennas

INFRARED RAYS

CHARACTERISTICS:

Low frequency, long wavelength, low energy.

USES:

Thermal imaging cameras, these are able to detect heat signatures by using infrared radiation that is emitted by heated objects. Night Vision devices, with the same reason. Also remote controls

ETC:

Non-ionizing. Able to cause molecular vibrations instead, leads to heat.

VISIBLE LIGHT

CHARACTERISTICS:

Mid frequency, Mid wavelength, Mid energy.

USES:

Used in photography and imaging. Fiber optics communication where light signals transmit data quickly and efficiently through optical fibers. Light moves in waves and is the only type of electromagnetic energy visible to the naked eye. Human Vision

S-cones (short wavelengths) : Sensitive to blue
M-cones (medium wavelengths) : Sensitive to green
L-cones (long wavelengths) : Sensitive to red

ETC:

White light is combination of all colors in visible light, it contains all the wavelengths and can be split through a prism. Produced by motion of electrons as they jump between different orbits

ROYGBIV

red has the longest wavelength and lowest energy.

violet has the shortest wavelength and the highest energy.

Due to this, red always ends up on top cs of how it gets bent less thru a prism due to its long wavelength, reverse goes for violet.

ULTRAVIOLET RAYS

CHARACTERISTICS:

High frequency, short wavelength, high energy.

USES:

Skin treatment, lamps, surgical instruments sterilization, vitamin D production, Calcium absorption

ETC:

There are 3 types

UVC: Shortest wavelength, absorbed by the atmospheric ozone.
UVB: Largest effect on the top layer of skin, can cause redness/burning/skin cancer
UVA: Longest wavelength, reaches deep into the layers of skin, can cause aging/wrinkling

XRAYS

CHARACTERISTICS:

High frequency, short wavelength, high energy.

USES:

Radio therapy and radiography

ETC:

Can cause damage to central nervous systems, and damage cells.

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation. Xrays can produce an ionizing radiation, which can harm living tissue.

GAMMA RAYS

CHARACTERISTICS:

Highest frequency, shortest wavelength, highest energy.

USES:

Sterilization of medical instruments, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Cancer treatment.

ETC:

Can kill healthy cells and gene mutation. Formed out of radioactive decay.

TYPES OF RADIATION

Ionizing radiation: When a wavelength as enough energy to ionize or remove an electron from an atom, which can change the chemical composition of a material.

Non-ionizing radiation: Has less energy but can excite molecule and atoms to vibrate fast.