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Understanding Electromagnetic Waves

The document discusses electromagnetic waves and the electromagnetic spectrum. It explains that electromagnetic waves are made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate at the speed of light. The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all types of electromagnetic waves, ranging from radio waves to gamma rays, with different wavelengths and frequencies. The document provides examples of common uses of different types of electromagnetic waves, such as using radio waves for broadcasting, microwaves for communication and cooking, visible light for sight, x-rays for medical imaging, and gamma rays for medical procedures.

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236 views16 pages

Understanding Electromagnetic Waves

The document discusses electromagnetic waves and the electromagnetic spectrum. It explains that electromagnetic waves are made up of oscillating electric and magnetic fields that propagate at the speed of light. The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all types of electromagnetic waves, ranging from radio waves to gamma rays, with different wavelengths and frequencies. The document provides examples of common uses of different types of electromagnetic waves, such as using radio waves for broadcasting, microwaves for communication and cooking, visible light for sight, x-rays for medical imaging, and gamma rays for medical procedures.

Uploaded by

api-260547045
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Waves and the

Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic Waves
 An electromagnetic (EM) wave is made up
of vibrating electric and magnetic fields
that move through space or some media at
the speed of light.
 Speed of light: 299,792 km/sec)
Electromagnetic Waves
 EM waves begin with the movement of
charged particles
 As the speed or direction changes an electric
field is created, this also produces a magnetic
field.
Electromagnetic Waves
 The electric and magnetic fields produce
each other repeatedly and vibrate at right
angles to one another
 Energy that is transferred by an EM wave is
called electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic Waves
 Although all electromagnetic waves travel
at the same speed, they do not all have the
same wavelength and frequency
Electromagnetic Waves
 The electromagnetic spectrum is the range
of all electromagnetic waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic Waves
 Radio waves
 Longest wavelength
 lowest frequency
 Used in radio broadcasting.
Electromagnetic Waves
 Microwaves
 Shorter wavelength/higher frequency than
radio waves
 Used for microwaves, cell phones
and radar
Electromagnetic Waves
 Infrared waves
 More energy than microwaves
 You feel the energy of an infrared ray as heat
 Cafeterias use infrared rays to keep food
warm
 Infrared cameras use infrared rays
to take pictures called thermograms
Electromagnetic Waves
 Visible light waves
 EM waves that can be detected by our eyes
 Only make up a small portion of the EM
spectrum
 Together they appear white but actually a
mixture of colors
Electromagnetic Waves
 Visible light wavelengths range from 700nm
to 400nm
 The colors in order from longest to shortest
wavelength (700 to 400) are ROY G BIV
 Red
 Orange
 Yellow
 Green
 Blue
 Indigo
 Violet
Electromagnetic Waves
 Ultraviolet waves
 EM waves become dangerous at this level
 Sunscreen can help protect against the UV
waves from the Sun
 Cause skin cells to produce vitamin D, which is
needed for healthy teeth and bones
Electromagnetic Waves
 X-Rays
 Dense matter, such as bones, absorb x-rays
 Used in the medical field to obtain images of
bones and teeth
 X-rays are also used by engineers to determine
if there are cracks in steel or concrete
structures.
Electromagnetic Waves
 Gamma rays
 Shortest wavelength, highest frequency
 Used in the medical field to examine internal
structures of the body treating tumors
 Nuclear reactions produce gamma rays and
some objects in space emit gamma ray bursts
Electromagnetic Waves
 All of the electromagnetic waves together
make up the electromagnetic spectrum

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