ULTRAVIOLET

A light that is undetectable in the human eye, It is a global spotlight that reveals the fragile
movement of life on our vibrant planet.

What is Ultraviolet?
Reporter: Ultraviolet lights (UV) is a type of electromagnetic radiation. It is a form of
non-ionizing radiation that is emitted by the sun or artificial sources that causes sunburn.
Do you know that ultraviolet light is invisible to our naked eye? Well here’s a trivia for
you.
It is invisible to the human eye because of its very short wavelength and . Only a very
small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is visible to the human eye as light.
But do you know what’s even more interesting?
Fun Fact! Some insects like bumblebees can see them. Their ability to see ultraviolet light
gives them an advantage and makes finding nectar easier for them.
Reporter: The UV region covers the wavelength range 100-400 nanometers and is divided into
three bands:
1st: UVA rays
● has the lowest amount of energy and has the longest wavelength. It causes skin aging
and some types of skin cancers.
2nd: UVB rays
● has higher energy levels and has shorter wavelengths than UVA.
● They damage the outermost layers of the skin and directly damage DNA.
● Also Overexposure to UVB rays can lead to sunburns.
Lastly, 3rd: UVC rays
● has the highest energy level among the UV radiation spectrum and has the shortest
wavelength
● It is the most damaging type of UV radiation that can cause severe burns of the skin and
eye injuries (photokeratitis).

Reporter: Overall, UVA and UVB rays are transmitted through the atmosphere, while all UVC
and some UVB rays are absorbed by the Earth's ozone layer.

Just keep in mind that these rays have shorter wavelengths than visible light but they have
longer wavelengths than X-Ray. Got it?! Now we can proceed to some other important facts.

Johann Ritter In 1801, he discovered the advantages of blue light over red light. However, the
most vigorous reactions took place in the region beyond the violet where nothing could be seen.
Ultra Violet is the new name for this radiation, which was formerly known as Chemical Rays.

Uses & Application

Reporter: These Ultraviolet Radiation not just provide risks to our health but it also provide
positive effects.
 1. Beneficial effects of UV radiation include the production of vitamin D, a vitamin
essential to human health. Have you ever wondered why babies need exposure to the
sun during the morning? Well it is because of Vitamin D that helps the body to absorb
calcium and phosphorus from food and assists in bone development. However, The
World Health Organization (WHO) only recommends 5 to 15 minutes of sun exposure 2
to 3 times a week.
2. Next up, UV is utilized in industrial processes, medical and dental practices for
various purposes like bacteria killing, fluorescent effects, curing inks and resins,
phototherapy and suntanning, with varying wavelengths and intensities.
3. Finally, UVB in Sterilization and disinfection exposure inactivates bacteria in
washing, protecting against infection and promoting outdoor drying over
energy-intensive dryers.
VISIBLE LIGHT
In 1665, Isaac Newton took a glass prism and held it up to a beam of sunlight streaming through
the window. He saw the sunlight that passed through the prism spread out into the colors of the
rainbow - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.

When light hits an object, the object reflects some of the light and absorbs the rest of it. Some
objects reflect more of a certain wavelength of light than others. That’s why you see a certain
color. For example, a lemon reflects mainly yellow light. A strawberry reflects mainly red light.

Where does light come from? The Sun is the dominant source of visible light waves our eyes
receive. The outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, the corona, can be seen in visible light.

Now where does it lie in the electromagnetic spectrum? Visible light on the electromagnetic
spectrum is between infrared and ultraviolet range. Each color of the rainbow has a specific
wavelength and frequency. Red light has the longest wavelength and lowest frequency, while
violet light has the shortest wavelength and highest frequency.

Visible light can be used in many ways. The main benefit of visible light is that it allows us to see
objects. Some key uses include its role in scientific experiments, the application of lasers
emitting visible light in areas like surgery and metal cutting, and the utilization of LEDs in
electronic devices. Additionally, sunlight, as the primary source of visible light on Earth, offers
health benefits such as vitamin D synthesis, bacteria-killing properties, immune system
enhancement, and support for plant photosynthesis.

RADIOWAVE
in the late 1880s, Henrich Hertz proved the existence of radio waves. How? Imagine as the
sparks of the coil transmitter were picked up by the receiving antenna, the sparks would jump its
gap which creates a wave.

This is where I introduce the longest wave known in the electromagnetic spectrum, Radio Wave.
As stated, Radio waves have the longest wavelength in the Electromagnetic Spectrum, we can
compare its resemblance to the range from the length of a football field to LARGER than our
planet.
From this, they have a very wide range of wavelengths that are divided into smaller regions or
wavebands. Each waveband has their own properties of wavelength and frequency, however, let
us put into our mindsets that whenever we talk about Radio Wave, it has an inversely
proportional relationship with its wavelength and frequency. In radio waves, if the wavelength is
the longest, the frequency is the lowest.

They are produced by making electrons vibrate in an antenna and are used to transmit sound
and picture information over long distances. Now how can this contribute to the communication
we get from our operating cellphones? The thing is my fellow classmates, Low frequency waves
are suitable for communication over great distances, thus, the explanation as to why cellphones
contain radio waves and can be used as an example for application.

Despite the low range of frequency in radio wave, they still vary according to their wavebands,
when cellphones are suitable for the lowest of low frequencies, for the medium and higher
frequency in the range of radio wave, broadcasting stations and radio communication is the right
answer. As we can observe from the world of journalism, they are situated in one area to avoid
interference from another center. You can notice that once they move far away from their
designated location, the sound of static noise will be produced and that’s because of the dozens
of frequencies mixed.

These are used for television and FM and AM radio broadcasts, military communications,
mobile phones, ham radio, wireless computer networks, and numerous other communication
applications.

INFRARED

Infrared waves can’t be seen, but they can be felt in the form of heat coming from sunlight or thermal
radiation. Every object, whether hot or cold, gives off heat. Did you know that this was discovered by
William Herschel? Herschel discovered the presence of infrared light in 1880 by using a glass prism to
filter sunlight. He placed a thermometer in the light path within each visible spectrum color. With that, he
found a temperature rise from blue to red. He came to the conclusion that sunlight’s red beams heat
objects more, but not until he saw a temperature reading somewhat warmer than the visible spectrum. It
was an invisible color! The invisible color, which he didn’t even know about, was the warmest, beyond
the red side of the spectrum. He found infrared light this way! The frequency of IR radiation is lower than
that of its neighbor, visible light, but with longer wavelengths.

Infrared is the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum. There are three distinct characteristics of
infrared, as shown in the figure:
1. Near Infrared
2. Medium Infrared
3. Far Infrared

What we need to know about its name and its relationship with the visible light is that "infra"
means below, and red is the warmest color. Meaning to say, infrared light does not reach the visible
spectrum; thus, it is an invisible color.

The IR waves can be used in very practical ways.

First, infrared radiation can be used in communication. An example of this is old phones with infrared
LEDs that enable the transfer of data or allow the transfer of small-sized files. Similar applications
include TV remote controls with infrared LEDs.

Additionally, it is used in medical infrared thermography; another example of this is thermal imaging,
which uses it to assess variations in body temperatures. This is also valuable for detecting inflammation,
circulatory issues, and other health conditions.

Lastly, it is used in technology. Night vision cameras in smartphones or security systems. Infrared
radiation allows these cameras to capture images in low-light conditions, making it possible to see in the
dark. One example is the CCTV.

X RAY

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to visible light. Unlike light, however,
x-rays have higher energy and can pass through most objects, including the body.

In 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered X-rays while experimenting
with cathode rays. Noticing a screen in his lab glowing without direct exposure to these rays, he
investigated further and found they could penetrate objects, including human tissue, and
produce images on photographic plates. The discovery earned Roentgen the first Nobel Prize in
Physics in 1901, marking the beginning of a revolutionary era in diagnostics and imaging
technology. Fun fact he called these new rays "X-rays" due to their unknown nature

X-ray photons are highly energetic and have enough energy to break up molecules and damage
living cells. Natural sources of X-rays and gamma rays include radon gas, radioactive materials
found in the earth, and cosmic rays that strike the planet from space.

X-rays have longer wavelengths than gamma rays but smaller frequency.

We all know X-rays for their medical purpose, as it is commonly used to diagnose fractured
bones and joint dislocation. It can generate images of tissues and structures inside the body,
helping diagnose conditions like tumors, vascular diseases, and injuries.

But did you know that X-rays are not only useful in the medical field? X-rays have numerous
uses.

X-rays also have analytical X-ray machines that use X-ray beams for microscopic examinations
or atomic analysis of materials which means it can determine the elements or characteristics of
the exposed material. X-ray crystallography helps determine a crystal's atomic and molecular
structure, contributing to the understanding of molecular biology, chemistry, and material
science.

X-rays are also used to look at the integrity of structures or components like buildings, bridges,
pipelines, construction sites, and more, without causing any damage. It can check the quality of
welds in metal structures.
X-rays are also present in the airport when you travel! The contents of luggage and cargo are
being examined for security purposes. This is to identify prohibited or restricted goods.

Although X-rays have numerous benefits, too much exposure is dangerous for us humans due
to their ionizing radiation. It leads to health risks like cancer. Exposure to high radiation levels
can have a range of effects, such as vomiting, bleeding, fainting, hair loss, and the loss of skin
and hair.

Archaeology and Art Conservation:

Artifact and Document Examination: X-rays are used to examine and analyze historical artifacts
and documents without physically altering them.

Soil Density Measurement: X-rays are used to measure soil density and moisture content in
environmental studies and construction projects.

Observing Celestial Objects: X-rays are employed in astronomy to observe celestial objects
such as stars, galaxies, and black holes, providing insights into high-energy processes in the
universe.

Food Inspection: X-rays are used to inspect food products for quality control, and to identify
foreign objects or contaminants.

MICROWAVE
But when did microwaves became a thing? Did you know, the invention of microwave oven was
accidental? In 1945, Scientist Percy Spencer was experimenting on a device called a magnetron.
Magnetrons emitt powerful heat-generated microwaves. While testing the magnetron, he noticed that
the chocolate bar in his pocket had melted.

Em microwaves are a type of electromagnetic radiation. It's called microwave because the "micro"
comes from the word "tiny or small". Meaning, they have small wavelengths. EM microwaves has the
ability to efficiently transmit energy through free space without the need of a medium, distinguishing
them from mechanical waves like sound. Additionally, microwaves propagate in straight lines and are
affected very little by the troposphere. They are not reflected nor refracted by ionized regions in the
upper atmosphere.

Microwave works by emitting electromagnetic waves at a specific frequency. EM microwaves is

common in heating applications. Just like any other microwaves, it can heat substances. The
radiation of microwaves with polar molecules, especially water molecules, leads to rapid and uniform
heating of substances. They are absorbed by water and fat in foodstuffs and it produce heat from the
inside.

In terms of communication, microwaves and radio waves are widely used waves due to their wide
range of applications in the telecommunications sector. Radio waves are used for wireless
transmission. While microwaves radio transmission is commonly used in point to point
communication systems on the surface of the earth, in satellite communications, and in deep space
radio communications.
In addition to that, microwave radar sensor is a device that uses microwaves to detect the presence
of objects. These sensors are used in security applications to detect intruders. Microwave radar
sensors work by emitting microwaves and then detecting the reflections of those microwaves off of
objects in their vicinity.

GAMMA RAYS
Imagine a vast cosmic stage where invisible waves, with the shortest wavelengths and highest
energy, gracefully dance across the universe. These are gamma rays, the most energetic form of
light,A TRUE POWERHOUSE in the electromagnetic spectrum….. With wavelengths shorter than
X-rays and frequencies exceeding an astonishing 10 quintillion Hertz, they are undeniably the most
powerful players in the cosmic symphony.

NOW!?, what conjures these gamma rays into existence? It's the aftermath of incredibly violent
events—stars exploding, neutron stars flaunting their immensely strong magnetic fields, and
encounters with exotic celestial objects that challenge our understanding of the cosmos.

Turning the pages of history, we find that gamma rays were first discovered in 1900 by the French
Chemist Paul Villard during his study of radiation emitted from radium. The term "gamma" was later
coined by the pioneering Ernest Rutherford in 1903……Think of it like a cosmic Christmas
tree—each ray shining with the brilliance of discovery.

But let's not forget the real showstopper—the Gamma Ray Burst. In a brief instant, it outshines the
entire universe, marking the most colossal explosions in the cosmic narrative.

Technically speaking, gamma rays boast extremely short wavelengths, typically less than 10
picometers, and frequencies exceeding 10^19 hertz. This remarkable feature makes them highly
penetrating and capable of ionizing atoms, influencing processes both in the microscopic realm and
the vastness of space.

In our daily lives, gamma rays are not just abstract phenomena. They emerge during certain nuclear
reactions and decays, such as those occurring in radioactive materials. Moreover, they take center
stage in high-energy astrophysical processes, such as supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.

Now, my friends, as we stand in the radiant glow of gamma rays, let's not only marvel at the wonders
of science and technology but also recognize the potential for positive change they hold for our
world.

So here's to gamma rays—the cosmic dancers and earthly guardians—shaping our past, present,
and future. Let's continue to explore, understand, and harness the power of gamma rays for the
betterment of our world.