Nature of Electromagnetic

Wave

Topics Theory of Electromagnetic

Wave

EM waves: Frequency and

Wavelengths

PAGE 1
 ANTICIPATION
TRUE OR FALSE: Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct, and FALSE if it is
not.
1. Electromagnetic waves transfer energy through a vacuum.
2. A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy.
3. EM waves travel at the speed of 4x10^8 m/s.
4. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves consisting of
changing electric fields and changing magnetic fields.
5. Most EM waves have the same speed.
PAGE 2
 Nature of
ELECTROMAGNET
ICWAVES
1. Describe how an electromagnetic (EM) wave
is produced and propagated;
2. Find out who the significant proponents are
on the formulation of electromagnetic theory;
and
3. Compare the relative frequencies and
wavelengths of each EM wave.
PAGE 3
 Electromagnetic Forces
forces that exist among interacting subatomic
particles.
These are electric and magnetic forces.
They are involved in the interconversion of electrical
energy and mechanical energy in generators and electric
motors.

PAGE 4
Nature of Electromagnetic waves

Anatomy of an
Electromagnetic Wave
• Energy
a) Potential energy
b) Kinetic energy
c) Electromagnetic
Radiation

Nature of Electromagnetic waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 5

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves Conclusion
Wavelength
Nature of Electromagnetic waves
Anatomy of an
Electromagnetic Wave
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.

Nature of Electromagnetic waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 6

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves Conclusion
Wavelength
 Nature of Electromagnetic waves
Mechanical and Electromagnetic
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).

• Sound waves cannot travel in the vacuum of space

because there is no medium to transmit these
mechanical waves.

Nature of Electromagnetic waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 7

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves Conclusion
Wavelength
 Nature of Electromagnetic waves
Mechanical and Electromagnetic
Waves
• Electromagnetic waves are produced by a
charge that changes its direction or speed.

• Electrons are charged particles that can

produce electric and magnetic fields. But in
order to create the vibrating electric and
magnetic fields that are the characteristics
of an electromagnetic wave, electrons must
move.
• They do not need medium to propagate.
Nature of Electromagnetic waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 8
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves Conclusion
Wavelength
PAGE 9
 Nature of Electromagnetic waves
Electricity & Magnetism
• is the phenomenon •
associated with either stationary or phenomenon produced by moving
moving electric charges. electric charge.

Nature of Electromagnetic waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 10

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves Conclusion
Wavelength
 ELECTRICITY
The source of the electric charge could be an
elementary particle, an (which has a
negative charge), a (which has a
positive charge), an , or any larger body that
has an imbalance of positive and negative
charge.
attracts each
other (e.g., protons are attracted to electrons),
while like charges repel each other (e.g.,
protons repel other protons and electrons repel
other electrons).

PAGE 11
 MAGNETISM
Like electricity, magnetism
produces attraction and repulsion
between objects. While electricity is
based on positive and negative
charges, there are no known
magnetic monopoles.
Any magnetic particle or object has
a "north" and "south" pole, with the
directions based on the orientation
of the Earth's magnetic field.
Like poles of a magnet repel each
other (e.g., north repels north), while
opposite poles attract one another
(north and south attract).
PAGE 12
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves

James Cler k Maxwell

• an English scientist, developed a scientific
theory to explain electromagnetic waves. He
noticed that electrical fields and magnetic
fields can couple together to form
electromagnetic waves.

• CHANGING magnetic field will induce a

CHANGING electric field and vice-versa.

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 14

Nature of Electromagnetic waves Conclusion
Wavelength
PAGE 15
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves
Heinr ich Her tz
• 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.

• Hertz proved the existence of radio waves in the

late 1880s. He used two rods to serve as a receiver
and a spark gap as the receiving antennae.

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 16

Nature of Electromagnetic waves Conclusion
Wavelength
PAGE 17
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves

Michael Far aday

• is probably best known for his discovery of
electromagnetic induction.

• Faraday discovered that a magnetic field

influenced polarized light – a phenomenon
known as the magneto-optical effect or Faraday
effect.

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 18

Nature of Electromagnetic waves Conclusion
Wavelength
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves
Michael Far aday
• He discovered electromagnetic induction, which led to the
invention of the dynamo, the forerunner to the electric
generator.
• He explained electrolysis in terms of electrical forces and
also introduced concepts such as field and lines of
force, which not only were fundamental to understanding
electrical and magnetic interactions but also formed the
basis of further advances in physics.
• he found that the plane of vibration of a beam of linearly
polarized light incident on a piece of glass rotated when
a magnetic field was applied in the direction of
propagation of the beam. This was one of the first
indications that electromagnetism and light were related.

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 19

Nature of Electromagnetic waves Conclusion
Wavelength
PAGE 20
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves

André-Marie Ampère
• a French physicist, natural philosopher, and
mathematician who is best known for his important
contributions to the study of electrodynamics.

• He invented the astatic needle, a critical component of

the modern astatic galvanometer, and was the first to
demonstrate that a magnetic field is generated when
two parallel wires are charged with electricity.

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 21

Nature of Electromagnetic waves Conclusion
Wavelength
Theory of Electromagnetic Waves

Hans Christian Øersted

• Danish physicist and chemist who discovered
that electric current in a wire can deflect a
magnetized compass needle, a phenomenon the
importance of which was rapidly recognized and which
inspired the development of electromagnetic theory.

Theory of Electromagnetic Waves EM waves: Frequency & PAGE 22

Nature of Electromagnetic waves Conclusion
Wavelength
PAGE 23
 REACTION
TRUE OR FALSE: Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct, and FALSE if it is
not.
1. Electromagnetic waves transfer energy through a vacuum.
2. A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy.
3. EM waves travel at the speed of 4x10^8 m/s.
4. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves consisting of
changing electric fields and changing magnetic fields.
5. Most EM waves have the same speed.
PAGE 24
 EMwaves:

• Compare the relative frequencies and wavelengths

of each EM wave.

PAGE 25
 EL ECTROMAGNETI C SPECTRUM
The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is the general name given to the known
range of electromagnetic radiation.

PAGE 26
PAGE 27
A changing magnetic field produces an electric field and changing electric field
produces a magnetic field.

PAGE 28
Speed of EM wave

PAGE 29
Sample Problem #1:
Ultraviolet light with a frequency of 2 x 10 ^16 Hz has a wavelength
of 1.5 x 10^-8 m. What is its speed?

PAGE 30
Sample Problem #2:
A certain electromagnetic wave has a wavelength of 6 x 10 ^-5 m.
What is the frequency?

PAGE 31
Sample Problem #3:
A certain electromagnetic wave has a frequency of 4 x 10 ^14 Hz.
What is the wave’s wavelength?

PAGE 32
Planck’ s Equation

Em waves carry energy called radiation.

This is the reason why EM waves are also
called electromagnetic radiation.
Generally, the higher the frequency of a
wave, the more energy it carries and the
more hazardous it becomes. This
relationship between frequency and
energy is summarized in Planks Equation.

PAGE 33
Sample Problem #1:
What is the frequency of a photon with an energy of 3.5 x 10 ^18 J?

PAGE 34
Sample Problem #1:
Calculate the energy of a photon of radiation with a
frequency of 8.5 x 10^14 Hz.

PAGE 35
Sample Problem #2:
What is the energy of a light wave if its frequency is
7.5 x 10^14 Hz?

PAGE 36
Planck’ s Equation

• These equation indicates that the

energy carried by an em waves is
directly proportional to its
wavelength.
• This means that the higher the
frequency and the shorter the
wavelength of the em waves , the
higher the energy they carry.

PAGE 37
Sample Problem #1:
A sodium vapor lamp emits light photons with a
wavelength of 5.89 x 10 ^-7 m. What is the energy of
photons?

PAGE 38
Practice Problem:
1. What is the frequency of a 6.9 x 10-13 m wave?
2. What is the wavelength of a 1.28 x 10^17 Hz wave?
3. What is the frequency of a 7.43 x 10^-5 m wave?
4. What is the frequency of a wave carrying 8.35 x 10^-18 J of
energy?
5. What is the frequency of a 1.78 x 10^-15 J wave?
6. What is the energy of a 3.12 x 10^18 s -1 wave?

PAGE 39
Solve the following:
1. The blue color of the sky results from the scattering of
sunlight by air molecules. The blue light has a frequency of
about 7.5 x 10 ^14 Hz. Calculate the wavelength associated
with this radiation.
2. A laser emits light that has a frequency of 4.69 x 10 ^14 Hz.
What is the energy of one photon of this radiation?
3. What is the wavelength of a 7.65 x 10^-17 J?

PAGE 40