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Physical Science - Chapter 21 

Electromagnetic Energy

21A Electromagnetic Waves

  • Electromagnetic Wave: a disruption in an electromagnet field that carries energy, even through the vacuum of space

  • Photon: a wave bundle, or particle, of electromagnetic energy

21B The Electromagnetic Spectrum

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum: the entire range of all electromagnetic wave s

Electromagnetic Spectrum

  • Radio Wave: the longest and lowest energy type of electromagnet wave

    • Frequency: 3 Hz to 300 GHz

    • Wavelengths: 100 000 km to 1 mm

    • Uses: navigation, communication

  • Microwave: a wave from the upper end of the radio wave band

    • Frequency: 300 MHz to 300 GHz

    • Wavelengths: 1 m to 1 mm

    • Uses: navigation, communication, astronomy, cooking

  • Visible Light: electromagnetic waves that humans can see

    • Frequency: 430 THz to 790 THz

    • Wavelengths: 700 nm to 380 nm

  • Ultraviolet Wave: an electromagnet wave that is just beyond (more energetic than) violet visible light

    • Frequency: 790 THz to 30 PHz

    • Wavelengths: 380 nm to 10 nm

    • Uses: medical treatment, dentistry, killing bacteria

  • X-ray: photograph taken with x-ray

    • Frequency: 30 PHz to 30 EHz

    • Wavelength: 10 nm to 10 pm

    • Uses: medical imagery, transportation security, nondestructive inspection

  • Gamma Ray: a high-energy photon that is emitted from a nucleus when a radioactive isotope experiences gamma decay

    • Frequency: above 30EHz

    • Wavelengths: 10 pm down to 1 fm

    • Uses: medical treatment, astronomy

Using Electromagnetic Waves

  • Amplitude Modulation: the process of putting information into a radio wave by changing, or modulating, the amplitude of the wave

  • Frequency Modulation: the process of putting information into a radio wave by changing, or modulating, the frequency of the wave

Physical Science - Chapter 21 

Electromagnetic Energy

21A Electromagnetic Waves

  • Electromagnetic Wave: a disruption in an electromagnet field that carries energy, even through the vacuum of space

  • Photon: a wave bundle, or particle, of electromagnetic energy

21B The Electromagnetic Spectrum

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum: the entire range of all electromagnetic wave s

Electromagnetic Spectrum

  • Radio Wave: the longest and lowest energy type of electromagnet wave

    • Frequency: 3 Hz to 300 GHz

    • Wavelengths: 100 000 km to 1 mm

    • Uses: navigation, communication

  • Microwave: a wave from the upper end of the radio wave band

    • Frequency: 300 MHz to 300 GHz

    • Wavelengths: 1 m to 1 mm

    • Uses: navigation, communication, astronomy, cooking

  • Visible Light: electromagnetic waves that humans can see

    • Frequency: 430 THz to 790 THz

    • Wavelengths: 700 nm to 380 nm

  • Ultraviolet Wave: an electromagnet wave that is just beyond (more energetic than) violet visible light

    • Frequency: 790 THz to 30 PHz

    • Wavelengths: 380 nm to 10 nm

    • Uses: medical treatment, dentistry, killing bacteria

  • X-ray: photograph taken with x-ray

    • Frequency: 30 PHz to 30 EHz

    • Wavelength: 10 nm to 10 pm

    • Uses: medical imagery, transportation security, nondestructive inspection

  • Gamma Ray: a high-energy photon that is emitted from a nucleus when a radioactive isotope experiences gamma decay

    • Frequency: above 30EHz

    • Wavelengths: 10 pm down to 1 fm

    • Uses: medical treatment, astronomy

Using Electromagnetic Waves

  • Amplitude Modulation: the process of putting information into a radio wave by changing, or modulating, the amplitude of the wave

  • Frequency Modulation: the process of putting information into a radio wave by changing, or modulating, the frequency of the wave

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