TOPIC: ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

DISPERSION OF LIGHT
Dispersion of light is the splitting up of a light beam into its component colours.

The colours produced are:

V- Violet
I- Indigo
B- Blue
G- Green
Y- Yellow
O- Orange
R- Red

The main features of dispersion of light through a prism are:

 The colour range produced is called spectrum

 The red light is deviated least and violet light is deviated most.
 The deviation for each colour is always towards base of the prism
 Each colour travel with speed of light
 The wavelength increases from violet towards red colour.
i.e. shortest wavelength = violet colour
longest wavelength = red colour
 The frequency increases from red towards violet colour
i.e. least frequency = red colour
Maximun frequency = violet colour
REASON FOR DISPERSION OF LIGHT:
The white light consist of seven radiation each having different wavelength. The speed
of light through the glass prism is different for different wavelengths. Due to difference in
speed, each wavelength bends differently passing through a glass prism and spectrum
of colours is produced.
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

There are seven main types of EM waves:

Basic concept:

 Visible Light is a small portion of the EM spectrum.

 EM waves are transverse waves comprising of electric and magnetic field
oscillating at right angle (90°) to each other.
 Radio waves have highest wavelength (lowest frequency) while gamma rays
have lowest wavelength (highest frequency).
 Energy of EM wave depends upon the frequency of the wave. The higher the
frequency the higher the energy.

Common characteristics of electromagnetic waves:

 They are all transverse.

 They can all travel through a vacuum
 They all travel at the speed of light i.e. 3x108 ms-1
 They do not carry any charge.
 They are not affected by electric and magnetic fields.
 They transfer energy from one place to another.
 They obey laws of reflection and refraction.
USES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

WAVES USES

RADIO Radio waves are used in radio broadcasting, wireless

telegraphy, telephone transmission, TV, radar and navigation
system
MICRO 1. Microwaves are used in microwave ovens for heating and
cooking purpose.
2. Micro waves are used in satellite-televisions.
3. Micro waves are used for radar detection of ships, aircraft
and missiles.

INFRA-RED 1. IR is used in remote controls.

2. IR is used in burglar alarm system.
3. IR is used in mobile phones.

LIGHT 1. Light is used in optical fibers for telecommunications.

2. Light is used to make things visible.
3. Light is used for photosynthesis process.

ULTRA VIOLET 1. UV lamps are used in sunbeds for artificial tanning.

2. UV causes fluorescence which is used in washing powders.
3. UV are used for checking counterfeit notes and forgeries.

X-RAYS 1. X-rays are used to detect fractures in bones.

2. X-rays are used as scanner in airports.
3. X-rays are used to study arrangement of atoms in crystal.

GAMMA RAYS 1. Gamma-rays can be used to kill cancer cells and to destroy
brain tumors.
2. Gamma-rays are used to sterilize surgical equipments.
3. Gamma-rays are used to find flaws in metal.