ELECTROMAGNETIC

SPECTRUM
 01 NETIQUETTE/ATTENDANCE

02 PRE-ACTIVITY

WORK 03 DISCUSSION
PLAN
04 POST ACTIVITY

05 WRAP UP
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

The range of
radiation.
Components of Electromagnetic Spectrum

Electromagnetic Spectrum
Gamma Visible Microwav Radio
X-rays Infrared Ultraviolet
rays light e wave
short long
wavelength wavelength
< 10-12 m Several km
high low
frequency frequency

Speed in a vacuum is constant

c = 3 x 108 m s-1
 EM PROPERTIES

1 An electromagnetic wave is produced by the

simultaneous vibration of electric and magnetic fields.

2 All electromagnetic waves…

transfer energy from one place to another
are transverse waves
DO NOT require any medium to travel from one
point to another
can travel through a vacuum at the speed of 3 x 108 m/s
carry no electrical charge as they are neither positively
nor negatively charged
obey wave properties like reflection and refraction
obey the wave equation: v = fλ.
 If electromagnetic waves travel in vacuum, then
for the wave equation
v = fλ

v = c, where c is the symbol for the speed of light in vacuum

∴ c = fλ
∴ 3.0 x 108 m/s = fλ

Their frequencies do not change when they travel from

one medium to another.
(e.g.. From water to glass). This is because their
frequency ƒ depends only on the source of the wave.
Only their speeds and wavelengths change from one
medium to another.
Memory aid (song)
 01
Do you think
EM can travel
through
vacuum?
 Real life Applications: RADIO WAVES

Source: TV and radio transmitters

detector: aerials of TV and radio receivers/antenna
Can move around
obstacles
is used in radio
communication and
television transmission
over long distances
(LW, MW, SW, VHF,
UHF)

Television transmission is made possible with the

use of VHF and UHF radio waves
 Real life Applications: MICROWAVE

Source: Electronic devices (eg. cavity

is used in satellite magnetron in microwaves)
communication and detector: microwave receivers
transmission, radar
systems and microwave
cooking/microwave oven
travels in straight line
without losing much of
its energy

speed-monitoring radar Microwave oven

 Real life Applications: INFRARED RADIATION

It is the radiation
source: warm bodies
beyond the red end of detector: special photographic films, blackened
the visible spectrum thermometers and thermocouples

It is used in remote
control devices,
intruder alarms,
infra-red photography
and radiant heaters
Infrared is emitted by
hot objects
an infra-red photograph
 Real life Applications: VISIBLE LIGHT

can be seen by human source: hot bodies, lasers and sun

eye detector: eyes, photographic film and photocells

is used in optical fibres,

medical usage,
telecommunications,
chemical spectral
analysis and
photosynthesis,
endoscopy. Lasers for
medical, industrial and
surveying use.
laser surgery
 Real life Applications: ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

source: sun, mercury vapour and lamps

detector: photographic film, fluorescent
stimulates our bodies to screens, dyes and photocells
produce vitamin D

is used in sunbeds,
fluorescent tubes,
sterilisation, forgery
detection and
fluorescence in washing
powders
Can cause tanning, overexposure can lead to
skin cancer
 Real life Applications: X-RAY

Source: x-ray tubes

is penetrating and can Detector: photographic film and fluorescent
cause damage to screens
tissues and organisms
Doctors, nurses and
people working in X-ray
environment have to
wear protective
clothing to shield
themselves from X-ray

x-ray photograph
 Real life Applications:Gamma ray

Source: cosmic rays, radioactive substances and

is penetrating and can nuclear reaction
cause damage to living detector: Geiger-Müller counters (GM tube),
bubble/cloud chambers and photographic film
tissues and organisms
is used in treatment of
cancer (gamma knives –
sharp beam of gamma
ray) and checking of
welds, under controlled
situations. Sterilising
equipment.

Gamma ray treatment

 Effects of EM Waves on Cells and Tissue
Exposure to Ionising radiations are
electromagnetic extremely high frequency
radiation primarily EM waves which include
causes heating effects X-rays and gamma rays.
such as the pain of They have enough photon
sunburn or skin cancer. energy to produce
However, over-exposure ionisation (a process where
may result in harmful one or more electrons are
effects such as pain of removed from a neutral
sunburn or skin cancer. atom by radiation). It is a
harmful process leading to
destruction or modification
of living cells.
Non-ionising
radiations are the part
of the EM spectrum
which has photon
energies too weak to
produce ionisation.
Examples are
ultra-violet, visible
light, infra-red
radiation, microwave
and radio wave.
Collaborative Work
 SUMMARY

consist of Components Applications

Electromagnetic
waves Radio waves Radio and television
communication
Microwaves Satellite television and telephone
are Infra-red waves Home electrical appliances, remote
. controls and intruder alarms
Transverse waves Light Optical fibres in medical usage and
telecommunication
with speed in Ultra-violet Sunbeds, fluorescent tubes and
vacuum sterilisation
X-rays Medical use and engineering
8 -1
c = 3 x 10 m s applications
Gamma rays Medical treatment
 Before Video

1 What are some examples of waves in everyday life?

Water, sound, light waves, and waves in a string or
slinky are some of the example waves in everyday life.
2 What causes waves?
Vibrations in matter case waves.
3 Do waves move matter as they travel?
Waves can cause matter to move back and forth in
place, but waves do not transport matter.
Can light
travel through
vacuum?
 After Video

Name some different types of electromagnetic waves.

1 What do they have in common? How are they different?
Electromagnetic waves include radio waves, microwaves,
infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and
gamma rays. All electromagnetic waves transfer energy. They
all travel the same speed The different waves along the
spectrum differ in their wavelength, frequency, and energy.
Microwaves are very efficient at heating water, but all
Electromagnetic waves can cause matter to heat up. Why is
2 this?
All electromagnetic waves transfer energy. When this energy is
absorbed by matter, it is converted into heat because it causes
the particles in the matter to vibrate more rapidly.
Electromagnetic Wave
Formative Assessment