5/7/2013
Electromagnetic Waves
What are electromagnetic waves ?
• Light, microwaves, x-rays, and TV and radio transmissions
are all kinds of electromagnetic waves.
• They are all the same kind of wavy disturbance that repeats
itself over a distance called the wavelength.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
Magnetism
• James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz are two scientists
who studied how electromagnetic waves are formed and how
fast they travel.
• In the 1860's and 1870's, a Scottish scientist named James
Clerk Maxwell developed a scientific theory to explain
electromagnetic waves. He noticed that electrical fields and
magnetic fields can couple together to form electromagnetic
waves. He summarized this relationship between electricity
and magnetism into what are now referred to as "Maxwell's
Equations."
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
Magnetism
• Heinrich Hertz, a German physicist, applied Maxwell's
theories to the production and reception of radio waves. The
unit of frequency of a radio wave -- one cycle per second -- is
named the hertz, in honor of Heinrich Hertz.
• His experiment with radio waves solved two problems. First,
he had demonstrated in the concrete, what Maxwell had only
theorized — that the velocity of radio waves was equal to the
velocity of light! This proved that radio waves were a form
of light! Second, Hertz found out how to make the electric
and magnetic fields detach themselves from wires and go
free as Maxwell's waves — electromagnetic waves.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
Electromagnetic Energy
• When you tune your radio, watch TV, send a text message, or
pop popcorn in a microwave oven, you are using electromagnetic
energy. You depend on this energy every hour of every day.
Without it, the world you know could not exist.
• Electromagnetic energy travels in waves and spans a broad
spectrum from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays.
• The human eye can only detect only a small portion of this
spectrum called visible light.
• A radio detects a different portion of the spectrum, and an x-ray
machine uses yet another portion.
• NASA's scientific instruments use the full range of the
electromagnetic spectrum to study the Earth, the solar system,
and the universe beyond.
1 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 4
Electromagnetic Energy
2 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 5
Our protective atmosphere
• Our Sun is a source of energy across the full spectrum, and its
electromagnetic radiation bombards our atmosphere constantly.
• However, the Earth's atmosphere protects us from exposure to a
range of higher energy waves that can be harmful to life.
• Gamma rays, x-rays, and some ultraviolet waves are "ionizing,"
meaning these waves have such a high energy that they can
knock electrons out of atoms.
• Exposure to these high-energy waves can alter atoms and
molecules and cause damage to cells in organic matter.
• These changes to cells can sometimes be helpful, as when
radiation is used to kill cancer cells, and other times not, as when
we get sunburned.
3 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 6
1

Atmospheric windows
• Electromagnetic radiation is reflected or absorbed mainly by
several gases in the Earth's atmosphere, among the most important
being water vapour, carbon dioxide, and ozone.
• Some radiation, such as visible light, largely passes (is transmitted)
through the atmosphere.
• These regions of the spectrum with wavelengths that can pass
through the atmosphere are referred to as "atmospheric windows."
• Some microwaves can even pass through clouds, which make them
the best wavelength for transmitting satellite communication
signals.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
Atmospheric windows
• While our atmosphere is essential to protecting life on Earth and
keeping the planet habitable, it is not very helpful when it comes to
studying sources of high-energy radiation in space.
• Instruments have to be positioned above Earth's energy-absorbing
atmosphere to "see" higher energy and even some lower energy
light sources such as quasars.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
Energy
• Energy, a measure of the ability to do work, comes in many forms
and can transform from one type to another.
• Examples of stored or potential energy include batteries and water
behind a dam.
• Objects in motion are examples of kinetic energy.
• Charged particles—such as electrons and protons—create
electromagnetic fields when they move, and these fields transport
the type of energy we call electromagnetic radiation, or light.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
5/7/2013
What are waves?
• Mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves are two important
ways that energy is transported in the world around us.
• Waves in water and sound waves in air are two examples of
mechanical waves.
• Mechanical waves are caused by a disturbance or vibration in
matter, whether solid, gas, liquid, or plasma.
• Matter that waves are traveling through is called a medium.
Water waves are formed by vibrations in a liquid and sound
waves are formed by vibrations in a gas (air).
• These mechanical waves travel through a medium by causing the
molecules to bump into each other, like falling dominoes
transferring energy from one to the next.
• Sound waves cannot travel in the vacuum of space because
there is no medium to transmit these mechanical waves.
7 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 10
What are waves?
• Classical waves transfer energy without transporting matter
through the medium.
• Waves in a pond do not carry the water molecules from place
to place; rather the wave's energy travels through the water,
leaving the water molecules in place.
8 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 11
Electricity
• Electricity can be static, like what holds a balloon to the wall or
makes your hair stand on end.
Electricity can be static, like what holds a balloon to the wall or makes your
hair stand on end.
9 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 12
2

Magnetism
• Magnetism can also be static like a refrigerator magnet. But
when they change or move together, they make waves -
electromagnetic waves.
• Electromagnetic waves are formed when an electric field
(shown as blue arrows in below diagram) couples with a
magnetic field (shown as red arrows in below diagram).
• The magnetic and electric fields of an electromagnetic wave
are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of the
wave.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 13
Electromagnetic Waves
• A changing magnetic field will induce a changing electric field and
vice-versa—the two are linked.
• These changing fields form electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic
waves differ from mechanical waves in that they do not require a
medium to propagate.
• This means that electromagnetic waves can travel not only through
air and solid materials, but also through the vacuum of space.
• Electromagnetic waves do not need matter to transfer energy.
• Electromagnetic waves are made by vibrating electric charges and
can travel through space by transferring energy between vibrating
electric and magnetic fields.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 14
How do moving charges create magnetic
fields?
• Any moving electric charge is surrounded by an electric field and a
magnetic field.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 15
5/7/2013
What happens when electric and magnetic
fields change?
• A changing magnetic field creates a changing electric field.
• Electromagnetic waves are formed by the vibrations of electric and
magnetic fields. These fields are perpendicular to one another in
the direction the wave is traveling. Once formed, this energy
travels at the speed of light until further interaction with matter.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 16
What happens when electric and magnetic
fields change?
• A changing magnetic field creates a changing electric field.
• One example of this is a transformer which transfers electric energy
from one circuit to another circuit.
–In the main coil changing electric current produces a changing
magnetic field
–Which then creates a changing electric field in another coil
producing an electric current
–The reverse is also true.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 17
Making Electromagnetic Waves
• The electric and magnetic fields vibrate at right angles to
the direction the wave travels so it is a transverse wave.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 18
3
 5/7/2013

Properties of Electromagnetic Waves Can a wave be a particle?

• Years later, Albert Einstein explained Hertz’s discovery:
• All matter contains charged particles that are always moving; Electromagnetic waves can behave as a particle called a
therefore, all objects emit Electromagnetic waves. photon whose energy depends on the frequency of the waves.
• The wavelengths become shorter as the temperature of the material • Electrons fired at two slits
increases. actually form an interference
• Electromagnetic waves carry radiant energy. pattern similar to patterns made
by waves.

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 19 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 22

What is the speed of Electromagnetic What did Young’s experiment show?

waves?
• All Electromagnetic waves Material Speed
travel 300,000 km/sec in
(km/s)
space. (speed of light-
nature’s limit!) Vacuum 300,000
• Electromagnetic waves Air <300,000
usually travel slowest in
solids and fastest in gases. Water 226,000
Glass 200,000
Diamond 124,000

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 20

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 23

What is the wavelength & frequency of Electromagnetic Waves

an Electromagnetic wave?
• Wavelength= distance from crest to crest. How they are Kind of wave
• Frequency= number of wavelengths that pass a given point in 1 s. formed? Sometimes behave
Transverse with as Waves or as
• As frequency increases, wavelength becomes smaller. Waves made by alternating Particles (photons)
vibrating electric electric and
charges that can magnetic fields.
travel through
space where there
is no matter.

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 21 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 24

4

Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Frequencies is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Different parts interact with matter in different ways.
• The ones humans can see are called visible light, a small part
of the whole spectrum.
• As wavelength decreases, frequency increases.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
Devices detect other frequencies:
• Antennae of a radio detects radio waves.
• Radio waves are low frequency electromagnetic waves with
wavelengths longer than 1mm.
• These waves must be turned into sound waves by a radio
before you can hear them.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
What are microwaves?
• Microwaves are radio waves with wavelengths less than 30 cm and
higher frequency & shorter wavelength.
• Cell phones and satellites use microwaves between 1 cm & 20 cm
for communication.
• In microwave ovens, a vibrating electric field causes water
molecules to rotate billions of times per second causing friction,
creating temperature which heats the food.
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles
5/7/2013
How does radar work?
• Radio Detecting And Ranging or radar is used to find position
and speed of objects by bouncing radio waves off the object.
25 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 28
What is magnetic resonance imaging?
• MRI was developed in the 1980s to use radio waves to
diagnose illnesses with a strong magnet and a radio wave
emitter and a receiver. Protons in H atoms of the body act
like magnets lining up with the field. This releases energy
which the receiver detects and creates a map of the body’s
tissues.
26 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 29
Infrared Waves
• Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 1mm &
750 billionths of a meter.
• Used daily in remote controls, to read CD-ROMs
• Every objects gives off infrared waves; hotter objects give
off more than cooler ones. Satellites can ID types of plants
growing in a region with infrared detectors
27 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 30
5
 5/7/2013

Can UV radiation be useful?

Visible Light • Helps body make vitamin D for healthy bones and teeth
• Used to sterilize medical supplies & equipment
• Range of Electromagnetic waves humans can see from 750
billionths to 00 billionths of a meter. • Detectives use fluorescent powder (absorbs UV & glows) to
find fingerprints
• You see different wavelengths as colors.
–Blue has shortest
–Red is the longest
–Light looks white if all colors are present

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 31 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 34

A range of frequencies X Rays and Gamma Rays

• In order of increasing frequency
and decreasing wavelength, the
Electromagnetic spectrum
consists of: very long wave radio,
used for communication with • EM waves with shortest
submarines; long, medium and wavelength & highest
short wave radio (used for AM frequency
broadcasting); FM radio,
television and radar; infra-red • High Energy- go through
(heat) radiation, which is skin & muscle
recorded in the Earth
photographs taken by survey • High level exposure causes
satellites; visible light; ultraviolet cancer
light, which, while invisible,
stimulates fluorescence in some
materials; x rays & gamma rays
used in medicine and released in
RMIT University SOET
radioactive decay
MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 32 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 35

Ultraviolet Waves X Rays and Gamma Rays

• Electromagnetic waves with wavelengths from about 400 billionths
to 10 billionths of a meter. • EM with wavelengths • The composite image shows
shorter than 10 trillionths of the all sky gamma ray
• Have enough energy to enter skin cells background.
a meter.
–Longer wavelengths – UVA
• Highest energy, can travel
–Shorter wavelengths – UVB rays through several centimeters
–Both can cause skin cancer of lead.
• Both can be used in
radiation therapy to kill
diseased cells.

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 36

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 33

6
 5/7/2013

Quiz Quiz
1. Which waves have some electrical properties and some 7. When a police officer uses radar for speed control, the officer is
magnetic properties? using what kind of electromagnetic waves?
(a) Longitudinal waves (a) Radio waves
(b) Transverse waves (b) Gamma rays
(c) Mechanical waves (c) Ultraviolet rays
(d) Electromagnetic waves (d) X-rays

2. Electromagnetic waves can transfer energy without a(n) ____. 8. Which of the following is true of ultraviolet rays?
(a) Medium (a) They are visible.
(b) Electric field (b) They carry information to televisions and radios.
(c) Magnetic field (c) They help your body produce vitamin D.
(d) Change in either a magnetic or an electric field (d) They provide the energy that makes your morning toast.

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 37 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 40

Quiz Quiz
3. Visible light has a higher frequency than ________. 9. Red light has the longest ____________________ of any color
(a) X rays of visible light.
(b) Ultraviolet rays
(c) Infrared rays 10. What properties of gamma rays make them useful in medicine?
(d) Gamma rays Explain.

4. The range of electromagnetic waves placed in a certain order is

called the _______.
(a) Electromagnetic spectrum
(b) Electromagnetic wavelength
(c) Electromagnetic frequency
(d) Electromagnetic field

RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 38 RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 41

Quiz
5. The electromagnetic waves with the highest frequencies are
called _______.
(a) Radio waves
(b) Gamma rays
(c) X-rays
(d) Visible light

6. Visible light can be separated into various colours to form a(n)

___.
(a) Spectrum
(b) Thermogram
(c) MRI
(d) X-ray picture
RMIT University SOET MIET 7296 Apply Scientific Principles 39