ELECTROMAGNETIC Wilhelm Röntgen

WAVES

What is Electromagnetic wave? :

Electromagnetic wave is a wave produced by an
acceleration of an electric charge and it is
created as a result from vibrations or oscillations
between electrical and magnetic fields.

As we go on, more information about

Electromagnetic waves are given by the
following:

• Electromagnetic can transfer energy from the

source of the wave to an absorbent;
• It can travel through a Vacuum such as in
space;
• all travel at the same velocity through a
vacuum; and
• electromagnetic waves travels exactly about
299,792,458 (m/s) through vacuum.
ELECTROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM
Electromagnetic waves form a continuous
spectrum of waves or what we know as
“Electromagnetic Spectrum” which includes:
• Waves with a very short wavelength has high
frequency, and high energy.
• While waves with a very long wavelength has
low frequency, and low energy
Electromagnetic waves can be separated into 7
distinct groups in the spectrum (shown below)
Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen, was a German
mechanical engineering and physicist, who
produced and detected electromagnetic radiation
in a wavelength range known as X-rays on
November 8, 1895.
BEHAVIOUR AND
USES OF
ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES
The behaviour of an electromagnetic wave in a
substance depends on its frequency or
wavelength. The differing behaviour of different
groups in the electromagnetic spectrum makes
them suitable for a range of uses.
• Radio waves: Radio waves are used for
communication. A good example would be
television and radio.

Each group contains a range of frequencies. For

Radio waves are known to be transmitted easily
example, visible light contains all the
through air. They do not cause damage if
frequencies that can be detected by the human
absorbed by the human body, and they can be
eye red light has the lowest frequencies of
reflected to change their direction. These
visible light and Violet light has the highest
properties make them ideal for communications.
frequencies of visible light.
Additionally, radio waves can be produced
by oscillations in electrical circuits. When radio
waves are absorbed by a conductor, they create
an alternating current. This electrical current
has the same frequency as the radio waves. The
conductor could be, for example, an aerial on a
radio.

• Microwaves: these are usually used for

satellite communication. The most common we
can think of its use is for cooking food or
heating.

• ultraviolet radiation: ultraviolet radiation can

kill bacteria. It is useful for sterilizing a water
which makes water safe to drink. Ultraviolet
radiation is also good for the skin as it helps to
make Vitamin D. However, too much exposure
High frequency microwaves have frequency to UV rays can cause skin problems.
which are easily absorbed by molecules in food.
The
internal energy of the molecules increases
when they absorb microwaves, which causes
heating.
Microwaves can easily pass trough earth’s
atmosphere, in much simpler definition, they can
pass between station Earth and satellites in orbit.

• Infrared: infrared light is usually used through

electrical heaters, cookers for cooking some
food, and by infrared cameras which can see
people in the dark.

Furthermore, did you know that Albert Einstein

developed about a new theory about
electromagnetic radiation? During the 1905, his
theory is known to be called as the “wave
particle theory”. It explains how electromagnetic
radiation can behave as both a wave and a
particle.
Infrared light has frequencies which are
absorbed by some chemical bonds. The internal
energies of bonds increases when they absorb
infrared light, which causes heating. This makes
infrared light useful for electrical heaters and for
cooking food. All object emits infrared light.
The human eye cannot see this light, but infrared
cameras detect it. This ‘thermal imaging’ is
useful for detecting people in the dark.

• visible light: It is the only visible light we can

see. It is used in fibre optic communication,
where coded pulses of light travel trough glass
fibre from a source to a receiver.