ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

• wave created as a result of vibrations between an electric and magnetic field

• can travel without a medium

• has the same speed (speed of light)

• has no matter

• all EM waves are radiation

• higher frequency = shorter wavelength

• lower frequency = longer wavelength

• electric & magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to each other and to the direction of the propagating wave

• travel in vacuum at a speed of 3.0 x 10⁸ m/s (denoted as c = speed of light)

• speed, frequency and wavelength are related by the ff equation:

v = λf

v = speed : m/s

λ = wavelength : m

f = frequency : Hertz (Hz)

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

• continuum of EM waves arranged according to frequency and wavelength

• according to increasing frequency: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays.

• different types are defined by the amount of energy carried or possessed by the photons

• waves with short wavelengths have high energy and can be very dangerous

• there is no sharp dividing line between one kind of wave and the next

Photons

• bundles of wave energy

• energy of a photon is given by the equation:

E = hf

E = energy of a photon (Photon Energy)

h = Planck’s constant

= 6.63 x 10⁻³⁴ J/s

J = joule

f = frequency

COMMON PROPERTIES OF EM WAVES

• carry energy from one place to another

• do not refuse a medium to travel

• they show reflection, refraction, absorption, and interference

• transverse waves

Wavelength: less than 0.01 nm

Frequency (Hz): more than 10 EHz

Photon Energy (eV): 100 keV - 300+ GeV

Wavelength: 0.01 - 10 nm

Frequency (Hz): 30 EHz - 30 PHz

Photon Energy (eV): 120 eV - 120 keV

Wavelength: 10 nm - 400 nm

Frequency (Hz): 30 PHz - 790 THz

Photon Energy (eV): 3eV - 124 eV

Wavelength: 390 nm - 750 nm

Frequency (Hz): 790 THz - 405 THz

Photon Energy (eV): 1.7 eV - 3.3 eV

Wavelength: 750 nm - 1 mm

Frequency (Hz): 405 THz - 300 GHz

Photon Energy (eV): 1.24 meV - 1.7 eV

Wavelength: 1 mm - 1 meter

Frequency (Hz): 300 GHz - 300 MHz

Photon Energy (eV): 1.24 μeV - 1.24 meV

* μ = micro

Wavelength: 1 mm - km

Frequency (Hz): 300 GHz - 3 Hz

Photon Energy (eV): 12.4 feV - 1.24 meV

TYPES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

Radio

• used to broadcast radio and television

Microwaves

• used in cooking, radar, telephone, and other signals

Infrared

• transmits heat from sun, fires, radiators

Visible Light

• makes things able to be seen

Ultraviolet

• absorbed by the skin, used in fluorescent tubes

X-rays

• used to view inside of bodies and objects

Gamma rays

• used in medicine for killing cancer cells

RADIO WAVES

• have the longest wavelengths in the EM spectrum

• range from the length of a football to larger than our planet

• Heinrich Hertz proved the existence of radio waves in the late 1880s

• used to transmit sound and picture information over long distances

• Low frequency waves are suitable for communication over great distances. But the curvature of the earth limits the range to about 80 kilometers. To extend the range, a repeater is used.

• High frequency waves can be reflected by the ionosphere. This enables the waves to be transmitted over great distances.

• Medium and high frequency waves are used for broadcasting by local radio stations.

CHARACTERISTICS

• not line of sight

• can pass through walls

• longer range

• not light sensitive

DISADVANTAGES

• communication devices that make use of the same frequencies interfere with their transmission

• easier to “eavesdrop” since signals are transmitted in a space rather than a wire

• more costly than infrared

MICROWAVES

• have smaller wavelengths than radio waves

• used in satellite communications, radar, television transmission, and cooking.

• wavelengths ranging from as long as one meter to as short as one millimeter

• the prefix “micro-” in “microwave” is not meant to suggest a wavelength in the micrometer range. It indicates that microwaves are “small” because have shorter wavelengths as compared to waves used in typical radio broadcasting

APPLICATIONS

• Terrestrial Communication

• Satellite Communication

• Microwave Oven

1. a part of the oven produces microwaves

2. the microwaves are sent to the reflecting fan

3. the microwaves are reflected in many directions by the fan and the walls of the microwave oven

4. as microwaves pass through the food, they transfer energy to the water molecules in the form of heat. this will cook the food

INFRARED

• lies beyond the red end of the visible light

• emitted by all objects.

• the amount and wavelength of radiation depend on temperature

• below 500C, an object emits only infrared radiation

• above 500C, an object glows and emits both infrared and some visible light

• typical television remote control uses infrared energy at a wavelength around 940 nanometers

• infrared lamps heat lamps often emit both visible and infrared energy at wavelengths between 500 nm to 3000 nm in length. They can be used to heat the bathroom or keep food warm, they can also keep small animals and reptiles warm or even to keep eggs warm so they can hatch

• divided into near-, mid-, and far-infrared. The region from 8 to 15 microns (µm) is referred to by Earth scientists as thermal infrared since these wavelengths are best for studying the longwave thermal energy radiating from our planet

DISCOVERY OF INFRARED

• In 1800, William Herschel conducted an experiment measuring the difference in temperature between the colors in the visible spectrum. He placed thermometers within each color of the visible spectrum. The results showed an increase in temperature from blue to red. When he noticed an even warmer temperature measurement just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum, Herschel had discovered infrared light.

APPLICATIONS

• Thermal Imaging

• Infrared Photographs

• Infrared Scanners

VISIBLE LIGHT

• The visible light spectrum is the segment of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can view. More simply, this range of wavelengths is called visible light. Typically, the human eye can detect wavelengths from 380 to 700 nanometers.

• As the full spectrum of visible light travels through a prism, the wavelengths separate into the colors of the rainbow because each color is a different wavelength. Violet has the shortest wavelength, at around 380 nanometers, and red has the longest wavelength, at around 700 nanometers.

• lies in between the infrared and ultraviolet rays

• thinnest slice in the spectrum

• only EM wave perceived by the human eye

• white light, like that of the sunlight, is made up of a variety of colors arranged as follows: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

• Isaac Newton's experiment in 1665 showed that a prism bends visible light and that each color refracts at a slightly different angle depending on the wavelength of the color.

• do not distinguishably separate between colors but continuously changing from red-violet

• EM wave can be bent when traveling from one medium to another

• violet bends most

• Close examination of the visible-light spectrum from our Sun and other stars reveals a pattern of dark lines—called absorption lines. These patterns can provide important scientific clues that reveal hidden properties of objects throughout the universe. Certain elements in the Sun's atmosphere absorb certain colors of light. These patterns of lines within spectra act like fingerprints for atoms and molecules. Looking at the Sun's spectrum, for example, the fingerprints for elements are clear to those knowledgeable about those patterns.

• Patterns are also evident in a graph of an object's reflectance. Elements, molecules, and even cell structures have unique signatures of reflectance. A graph of an object's reflectance across a spectrum is called a spectral signature.

• used as proof for CMB (Cosmic Microwave Background)

• sky is blue because of chemical components in the atmosphere (nitrogen) that refracts blue light the most

• sunlight emits many EM waves like UV, infrared, etc but the only visible to us is visible light

• Our eyes are sensitive to electromagnetic waves of wavelengths that ranges from 4 x 10⁻⁷ m to 7 x 10⁻⁷ m.

ULTRAVIOLET

• has shorter wavelengths than visible light. Although UV waves are invisible to the human eye, some insects, such as bumblebees, can see them. This is similar to how a dog can hear the sound of a whistle just outside the hearing range of humans.

• wavelength shorter than that of visible light in the range 10 nm to 400 nm

• Solar UV radiation is commonly subdivided into three regions: UV-A (320–400 nm), UV-B (290–320 nm), and UV-C (220–290 nm), ranked from long to shorter wavelengths (from smaller to larger energies). Most UV-B and all UV-C is absorbed by ozone (O3) molecules in the upper atmosphere. Consequently, 99% of the solar UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface is UV-A.

• There are other schemes for dividing UV into different categories, another common one is: near-ultraviolet (NUV – 300-400 nm), middle ultraviolet (MUV – 200- 300 nm), far ultraviolet (FUV – 200-122 nm), and extreme ultraviolet (EUV- 121-10 nm).

TYPES OF UV RAYS

• SPF 15 and above for sun protection

• ultraviolet rays can damage tissue, burn the skin and damage the eyes

• Scientists studying astronomical objects commonly refer to different subdivisions of ultraviolet radiation:

• near ultraviolet (NUV)

• middle ultraviolet (MUV)

• far ultraviolet (FUV)

• extreme ultraviolet (EUV)

USES

• production of vitamin D in our skin

• sterilization of water in drinking fountains

• identifying original from fake banknotes

• used to sterilize medical equipment

• dental tools

• sunbed

DISCOVERY OF ULTRAVIOLET

• In 1801, Johann Ritter conducted an experiment to investigate the existence of energy beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum. Knowing that photographic paper would turn black more rapidly in blue light than in red light, he exposed the paper to light beyond violet. Sure enough, the paper turned black, proving the existence of ultraviolet light.

X-RAYS

• have much higher energy and much shorter wavelengths than ultraviolet light, and scientists usually refer to x-rays in terms of their energy rather than their wavelength. This is partially because x-rays have very small wavelengths, between 0.03 and 3 nanometers, so small that some x-rays are no bigger than a single atom of many elements.

• Our Sun's radiation peaks in the visual range, but the Sun's corona is much hotter and radiates mostly x-rays. To study the corona, scientists use data collected by x-ray detectors on satellites in orbit around the Earth. Japan's Hinode spacecraft produced these x-ray images of the Sun that allow scientists to see and record the energy flows within the corona.

• X-rays are electromagnetic waves with wavelengths in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 3×1016 Hz to 3×1019 Hz. X-rays come just after the ultraviolet rays. They are of shorter wavelengths but carry higher energy than the ultraviolet. They are produced using an X-ray tube. They are emitted when fast moving electrons hit a metal target.

• Long wavelength X-rays can penetrate the flesh but not the bones. They are used in X-ray photographs to help doctors look inside the body. They are useful in diagnosing bone fractures and tumors.

• Short wavelength X-rays can penetrate even through metals. They are used in industry to inspect welded joints for faults.

• All X-rays are dangerous because they can damage healthy living cells of the body. This is the reason why frequent exposure to X-rays should be avoided. Too much exposure to X-rays can damage body tissues and can cause cancer.

DISCOVERY OF X-RAYS

• X-rays were first observed and documented in 1895 by German scientist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen. He discovered that firing streams of x-rays through arms and hands created detailed images of the bones inside. When you get an x-ray taken, x-ray sensitive film is put on one side of your body, and x-rays are shot through you. Because bones are dense and absorb more x-rays than skin does, shadows of the bones are left on the x-ray film while the skin appears transparent.

• first clinical x-ray taken by Wilhelm Roentgen on December 22, 1895, of his wife’s hand, showing wedding ring and bones of fingers

• 15 minute exposure (his wife)

USES

• medical imaging

• security

• radiation therapy

• checking authenticity of art pieces

• engineering applications

• industries

• research and development

• astronomy

GAMMA RAYS

• lie at the other end of the electromagnetic spectrum

• shortest in wavelength and highest in frequency

• carry the highest amount of energy, thus, they are more dangerous.

• emitted by stars and some radioactive substances.

• can only be blocked with lead and thick concrete.

• ionizing radiation and are thus biologically hazardous.

• classically produced by the decay from high energy states of atomic nuclei, a process called gamma decay, but are also created by other processes.

• have the smallest wavelengths and the most energy of any wave in the electromagnetic spectrum

• produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the universe, such as neutron stars and pulsars, supernova explosions, and regions around black holes.

• On Earth, gamma waves are generated by nuclear explosions, lightning, and the less dramatic activity of radioactive decay.

USES

• used to treat cancer (radiotherapy)

• used in sterilizing medical equipment

• nuclear industry