Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Waves
Electromagnetic waves features:
Electromagnetic waves can travel in vacuum
EM waves have the same speed of light in vacuum 3×108 m/s
EM waves are transverse waves consisting of oscillating magnetic and
electric fields
EM waves transfer energy (when a source absorbs EM waves it gains
energy and it loses energy as it radiates them)
The full range of electromagnetic waves is called the electromagnetic
spectrum
Electromagnetic waves are produced from oscillating charged particles
Vibrating atoms produce infrared – oscillating current emits radio waves.
Radio waves
Produced by oscillating current in an
aerial (Antenna)
Long and medium waves can diffract
around hills, long waves diffract round
the curved surface of earth
VHF (very high frequency) for stereo
radio and UHF (ultra‐high frequency) for
TV broadcast waves have higher
frequency and cannot diffract around hills. For better reception these
waves must travel in straight path.
Microwaves have the highest frequency and used in cell phones and
satellites. These waves produce heating effect as they are absorbed.
Infrared radiation
All objects emit some infrared because of
the motion of their atoms or molecules.
Increasing the temperature make their
particles vibrate more and emit more
infrared.
Infrared waves are used in security
systems – remote controls – cellphones –
sending signals – night vision.
Visible light
Light is the visible part of the
electromagnetic spectrum that can be
detected by the eye.
White light consists of many colors
(Red – orange – yellow – green – blue –
indigo – violet)
Ultraviolet
Very hot objects such as the Sun produce ultraviolet light
The Sun’s Ultraviolet light is harmful to living cells
Too much of this radiation can cause skin cancer and burns.
Fair skin absorbs UV much deepe
r than dark skin. The
skin develops a tan to protect its self against UV.
UV can damage the eye’s retina and cause blindness
UV can kill bacteria therefore its used in sterilizing equipment.
Fluorescent tubes are internally coated with a white powder that glows
when UV is absorbed.
X ray
When very fast electrons lose energy
very quickly
X ray can pass through the flesh but
not the bones
X rays can be used in industries for
taking photographs for metals – in
airports for detecting metals
X rays destroy cells and can cause
cancer or mutations
Beams of X rays are used in treating
and destroying cancer cells
Gamma rays
Gamma rays are produced by radioactive
materials
Gamma rays are emitted from the nuclei
of unstable atoms when they lose energy.
Gamma rays are used in the treatment of
cancer, for medical photographing,
sterilizing food and medical equipment by
killing bacteria
UV – X ray – Gamma ray can cause ionizing (stripping atoms from their
electrons) this can kill living cells, damage them or make them grow
abnormally.