PHYSICAL SCIENCES

GRADE :10
LESSON TOPIC: EM
RADIATION
DATE: 05 March 2025
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
Light as a wave (Classical Physics)
Properties of waves
• Waves can be reflected. That is bounce of the surface of an
object
• Waves can be refracted. When waves move through a medium,
waves can bend.
• Waves can be transmitted.
• All of the above properties of waves are true for light
• Therefore light can be considered to be a wave.
• Some properties of light are best described when light is
considered to be a wave.
Example
• Reflection Refraction Transmission
Light as a particle ( Modern Physics)
• Particle Nature
• Particles can interact with each other.
• Light can act as a stream of particles
• Light can interact with matter
Light as a particle ( Modern Physics)
• This occurs when light radiation shines on a metal surface then
electrons on the metal become activated and energised, then
eventually ejected from the metal surface
• Light consist of packets of energy (Introduced by Max Planck
and Proved by Albert Einstein)
• These small amounts of energies are called Photons
• Photons can be absorbed by particles or emitted (given off)
• Simply particles can give off light or take it in
Wave- Particle Duality
• Certain behaviour of light can only be true if we consider light as
a wave.
• Such as: Reflection and Refraction
• Other behaviour of light can only be true if we consider light as
a particle that have energy
• Such as: When light is shown on metal surface then the surface
heats (become warmer) up.
• Therefore depending on the application light can either be
considered a wave or a particle and this is called Wave-Particle
Duality
Origin of Electromagnetic waves
• Charged particles creates an electric field
• The electric field turns to creates a magnetic field
• Due to the oscillation of charges.
• Oscillating charges create changing fields
• The changing fields propagates like waves.
• Hence the wave is created by oscillating charges, which
consists of oscillating electric and magnetic field
• This resulting wave is defined as an Electromagnetic wave.
Nature of Electromagnetic radiation
• Electromagnetic waves are produced by accelerating charged
particles.
• Electromagnetic waves propagates when an electric field
oscillates in one plane produces a magnetic field oscillating in
plane at right angles to it.
Electromagnetic Waves
• These mutually regenerating fields travel through space at a
constant speed of 3 × 108 𝑚 ∙ 𝑠 −1
• This speed is represented by symbol (c)
• Unlike sound waves , Electromagnetic waves DO NOT require
a medium to travel through.
• Electromagnetic waves can be classified into seven different
categories depending on its frequency and wavelength which is
shown using an Electromagnetic spectrum
• The electromagnetic spectrum consist of all the frequencies and
wavelength of electromagnetic radiation arranged in order.
Relationship between frequency and wavelength

The Electromagnetic Spectrum in order of increasing frequency

RMIVUXG
The Electromagnetic Spectrum in order of decreasing frequency
GXUVIMR
Electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic waves are grouped according to different
wavelength, frequency and energy
• For the above reason they have different properties and
different uses in everyday life.
• EMR arranged in order of decreasing wavelength, according to
the EM spectrum: where radio wave have the longest
wavelength(lowest frequency) and gamma rays have the
shortest wavelength (highest frequency)
• Wavelength: Radio wave > Microwave > Infrared rays > visible
light rays > Ultraviolet rays > X-rays > Gamma rays
• Frequency: Radio wave < Microwave < Infrared rays< visible
light rays< Ultraviolet rays < X-rays < Gamma rays
Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation
Radio waves
• Produced by currents in wires and circuits.
• Applications: AM and FM radio, Cellular phones and TV
Microwaves
• Also created by currents in wires and circuits
• Can also be created by atoms and molecules
• High frequencies compared to that of radio waves, thus have
shorter wavelength. Hence the name Microwave.
• Application: Microwaves are suitable for communication. Most
Satellite-transmitted information is carried on microwaves.
Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation
• RADAR is the most common application (radar speed trapping device),
where a radar gun is aimed at a vehicle and a radar signal is sent out. The
radar signal reflects off the moving vehicle and returns to the gun. The
control unit in the gun measures the difference in frequency of the emitted
signal and returned signal and then calculates the speed of the vehicle.
Infrared rays (below Red)
• Produced by thermal motion i.e the vibration and rotation of atoms and
molecules.
• Application: Night vision scopes detect the infrared emitted by warm
objects
Visible light
• The narrow segment of the electromagnetic spectrum to which the normal
eye responds
• Red light has the lowest frequency while violet has the highest frequency
in the visible part of the spectrum
Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation
Ultraviolet (UV) rays (above violet)
• Produced by atomic and molecular motions and excitations
• It has severe effects on living cells, causing sun burns in long
exposure to it.
• Can cause skin cancer from repeated exposure
• Application: sterilisation of equipment and Vitamin D production in
the skin.
X-Rays
• The nature and its identity was unknown at the time of discovery.
Scientist referred to it as x-rays.
• Produced by sub-microscopic processes and can be caused by high-
voltage discharges
Nature of Electromagnetic Radiation
• Since it frequency is higher than that of UV-radiation its
penetrating ability can have more severe effects on cells
• Can penetrate more layers of the surface layers of the cells
• Application: X-rays can be used to treat and even ‘’cure’’ cancer
• Most commonly used to generate images through scans of the
human body
Gamma Rays
• The most penetrating nuclear radiation was gamma (γ) -rays
• Any electromagnetic radiation emitted by a nucleus
• NOTE: The Higher the frequency of the electromagnetic wave
the greater its penetrative ability
 SUMMARY
• The shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency of
radiation.
• The higher the frequency of radiation, the more energy it
contains and the greater the penetrating ability
• EM radiation originates as a result of the acceleration of
charges
• It does not need a medium and can be propagated through a
vacuum.
• Light wave travels at constant speed of 3 X 10 8 m.s-1 but have
different frequencies (f) and wavelengths (𝝀)
• General wave equation: c = f 𝝀
Calculations involving Wave Equations
The Wave Equation
• The wave equation also applies to the electromagnetic
radiation.
• The only difference is the speed of light which is constant at
c=3,00×108 m·s-1
• The wave equation: 𝑐 = 𝑓λ
• Recall frequency is a reciprocal of period; ƒ= 1/T
• Convert frequency: kHz -> Hz x 10^3
Relationship between
frequency & wavelength
𝒄 = 𝒇.⋋

𝑓α 1/⋋
➢ As frequency
Increase,
wavelength
Decreases at
constant c.
➢ f vs ⋋
 Questions
1) The frequency of the radiation in a microwave oven is 2,45
GHz. Calculate its wavelength
2) If the Sun is suddenly turned off, we would not know it until its
light stop coming. How long would that be, given that the sun
is 1,50 ×1011 m away?
(Steps to be followed during calculations)
1) Introduce units (Mega Hertz- MHz – x 106)
(Giga Hertz – GHz –x 109) marry this
with nanometre (nm x 10-9) as wavelength is normally measured
in nanometre.
Quantisation of Energy
• Max Planck (1858 -1947) realised that energy is comes in packets
(Quanta) of energy
• Albert Einstein used the particle nature of light to prove that
electromagnetic radiation propagates in quanta which we call
Photon
• The Photon
• A photon is a quantum ( wave packet) of electromagnetic radiation. It
has zero mass and travels at the speed of light
• The Energy of a Photon (E)
• The energy of a photon is related to the frequency of the wave
• The energy of the photon is directly proportional to the frequency of
the wave
Energy of the Photon
• Change proportionality sign to equal sign. Must get a proportionality constant
• Planck’s constant h= 6.63×10-34 J∙s changes the relationship to an equation
• Mathematically: E=hf
𝒄
• Also 𝒇 = where c is the speed of light and is constant c = 3 x 108 m.s-1
𝝀
vacuum
𝒄 𝒉𝒄
• The wave equation 𝒇 = can be combined with E=hf to give 𝑬 = .
𝝀 𝝀
• Where E is the energy of a photon.
• Example: Calculate the energy of a photon of blue light 𝝀 =450 nm
• Solution: E = hf convert 𝝀= 450x 10^-7 m
𝒉𝒄
𝑬= .
𝝀
= ( 6.63 x 10-34)(3 x 108)
(4.5 x10-7)
= 4.4 x 10-19 J
Relationship between
Energy & Frequency
E = 𝒉. 𝒇
Eα 𝑓
➢ As Energy Increase,
frequency Increases
at constant h.
➢ E vs f
➢ Gradient (m) =h
(planck constant)
Relationship between
Energy & Wavelength
𝒉.𝒄
E=
⋋
1
Eα ⋋
➢ As Energy Increase,
frequency Decreases
at constant h.c
➢ E vs 1/⋋
➢ Gradient (m) =h.c
(planck constant)
Examples
 ACTIVITY 1
Some electromagnetic waves are listed below. UV-rays, Infrared rays,
Radio waves, X-rays and γ-rays
1) How are electromagnetic waves generated?
2) From the list above, write down the waves:
2.1 Used in a TV remote control
2.2 Used to sterilise instruments in hospitals
2.3 With the greatest penetrating ability
2.4 Used in the treatment of cancer
3) Ultrasound is used to obtain an image of an unborn baby. Briefly
explain why X-rays cannot be used for the same purpose.
4) An X-ray photon incident on a body has a wavelength of 2,1 x 10-9
m. Calculate how much energy the photon imparts to the body.
 ACTIVITY 2
• The table below shows the electromagnetic waves according to
their frequencies.
1) Write down TWO properties of electromagnetic waves.
2) Which radiation has the smallest energy?
3) Determine the wavelength of microwave with the highest
frequency within the range.
4) A certain radiation has an energy of 1,99×10-20 J. Identify the
type of radiation associated with this energy.
THANK YOU
Physical Sciences
Grade : 10
EM Radiation
Date: 05/04/2025
ACTIVITIES
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 Concluding Remarks
Following our today lesson, I Repeat this procedure until you are
want you to do the to: confident.

Read through what the learner need to

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Complete the activities

Attempt as many as possible other similar examples on your own from the
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44
Thank you