Topic: Waves and Optics

Subtopic: Electromagnetic waves

What are electromagnetic waves? These are waves that are produced from changing
magnetic and electrical fields. They are invisible forms of energy that travel though the
universe. However, you can "see" some of the results of this energy. The light that our eyes
can see is part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Diagram showing how an

electromagnetic wave propagates.

Electromagnetic waves differ from mechanical waves (for eg sound and water waves) in that
they do not require a medium to propagate.

Properties of electromagnetic waves

1. They are all transverse waves
2. They can be reflected, refracted, diffracted and show interference
3. They all travel at the same speed in a vacuum, which is 3 x 10^8 m/s
4. They are not deflected by an electric field or magnetic field.
5. They are propagated by oscillating electric and magnetic fields moving at right angles
to each other.

The Electromagnetic spectrum

The character of an e.m. wave is determined by its frequency. The electromagnetic spectrum
is a classification of e.m. waves according to their frequencies. Since all e.m. waves have the
same speed in a given medium, the wavelength of any e.m. wave is determined solely by its
frequency, as can be seen from the basic wave equation,
Wave speed = Frequency x wavelength
So, in any particular medium frequency and wavelength are INVERSELY
PROPORTIONAL.
The spectrum consists of the following waves in order of increasing frequency.
1. Radio waves
2. Microwaves
3. Infrared radiation
4. Visible radiation
5. Ultraviolet radiation
6. X rays
7. Gamma radiation

The electromagnetic spectrum

1. Radio
waves-
These
waves
have the
longest

wavelength and in turn the lowest frequency of the spectrum. Heinrich Hertz proved
the existence of radio waves in the late 1800s. Radia waves are produces artificially
by time varying electric currents flowing back and forth in a specially-shaped metal
conductor called an antenna. . An electronic device called a radio transmitter applies
oscillating electric current to the antenna, and the antenna radiates the power as radio
waves.
Radio waves have an approximate wavelength from 0.001 m to 100000 m.
Radio waves are used in: Standard radio and television broadcasting, short wave radio,
Navigation, air traffic control, cellular telephony and remote-controlled toys.
You can tune a radio to a specific wavelength—or frequency—and listen to your favourite
music. The radio "receives" these electromagnetic radio waves and converts them to
mechanical vibrations in the speaker to create the sound waves you can hear.
2. Microwaves- Sources of microwave radiation include the sun and other stars, cosmic
background radiation, and technologies including cell phones and other wireless
communication systems, weather and other remote sensing satellites, and microwave
ovens.
The uses of the microwave are similar to that of radio waves. They are used in
communications, radio astronomy, remote sensing, radar and owing to their heating
application, they are used in cooking as well.

3. Infrared waves - Infrared waves, or infrared light, are part of the electromagnetic
spectrum. People encounter Infrared waves every day; the human eye cannot see it,
but humans can detect it as heat. The prefix infra means below therefore infrared
means ‘below red’.

Common natural sources are solar radiation and fire. Common artificial sources
include heating devices, infrared lamps and in infrared saunas for health purposes.
Industrial sources of heat such as steel/iron production also fall into the infrared
region.

Among the most well-known uses are heat sensors, thermal imaging and night vision
equipment. In communications and networking, infrared light is used in wired and
wireless operations.

4. Visible light - Visible light comprises only a tiny fraction of the entire electromagnetic
radiation spectrum, yet it contains the only region of frequencies to which the rods
and cones of the human eye will respond. The wavelengths that humans are typically
able to visualize lie in a very narrow range between approximately 400 and 700
nanometers. Humans can observe and respond to stimuli created by visible light.
However, the remainder of the electromagnetic spectrum is invisible.
 Sources of visible light include.
i. The Sun
ii. Artificial light from florescent and incandescent devices
iii. Celestial bodies
iv. Bioluminescence

Uses of visible light include I. Fibre optics communication.

ii. Photography
iii. Electronic gadgets
iv. Photosynthesis

5. Ultraviolet Radiation – The prefix ultra means above therefore ultraviolet literally
means ‘above violet’. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation
that is emitted by the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds. While it has
some benefits for people, including the creation of Vitamin D, it also can cause health
risks.
Sources of ultraviolet radiation include:
i. The Sun
ii. Tanning beds
iii. Mercury vapor lighting (often found in stadiums)
iv. Some halogen, fluorescent and incandescent lights
v. Some types of lasers

Uses of Ultraviolet radiation include:

i. killing bacteria
ii. creating fluorescent effects
iii. curing inks
iv. phototherapy
v. suntanning
 6. X rays – These waves have a much higher frequency than visible light and can pass
through most objects, including the human body. X rays have a range of frequencies
from infinity to 5 x 10^17 Hz.
Sources of X rays include :
i. Astrophysical sources
ii. Naturally occurring radionuclides.
iii. Radioactive tracer (an artificial source)
iv. X ray machines (an artificial source primarily used in the detection of cracks in
bones)
Uses of X rays include: i. Detect broken bones ii. Radiation therapy (X rays can be
used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours. iii. Airport security iv. Revealing counterfeit art

X-rays play an important role in revealing an artist's techniques, pigments, and

underpaintings. X-ray film primarily records the structural elements of a painting, including
the dispersion of lead white, the principal white pigment used for centuries by painters.

7. Gamma rays – These waves have the highest frequency and the lowest frequency of
the e.m. spectrum. Sources of gamma radiation include:i. neutron stars ii. Supernova
explosion iii. Nuclear explosions iv. Radioactive decay.

Uses of gamma rays include i. sterilisation of medical equipment.

ii. radiotherapy (they are used as tracers in medicine)

Gamma rays are used to kill cancer cells

Activity
1.Consider the following types of wave: infrared, ultraviolet, sound, X rays and radio.
a. Which of these is not a part of the e,m. spectrum
b. Of those that are electromagnetic i) which has the shortest wavelength?
ii) which has the lowest frequencies?
iii)which is used in oil painting forgeries?

2.FM radio is broadcast in a frequency range from 88 MHz to 108 MHz. What range
of wavelengths is spanned by the FM radio?