Spectrum of Electromagnetic

waves
Maxwell in 1865 predicted the existence of
electromagnetic waves .
Hertz confirmed experimentally in 1888.
The distribution of electromagnetic radiations
according to their wavelength and
frequency is called the electromagnetic
spectrum.
 Radio wave
 Longest wavelength electromagnetic wave.
 Uses:
 TV broadcasting
 AM and FM broadcast radio
 Heart rate monitors
 Cell phone communication
 Microwaves
 Short wavelength radio waves produced by
special vacuum tubes (klystrons, magnetrons
and Gunn diodes )
 Uses:
 Microwave ovens
 Bluetooth headsets
 Broadband Wireless Internet
 Radar

.
 Infrared waves
 Infrared waves were discovered by Herschell.
 These waves are produced by hot bodies and
are referred as heat waves
 Uses:
• Used in physical therapy i.e treat muscular strain
• Infra red detectors are used in Earth satellites,
both for military purpose and to observe growth
of crops.
• Maintains green house effect.
• Used in electronic devices like
remote control
 Visible rays
 Only type of EM wave able to be detected by
the human eye
 Violet is the highest frequency light
 Red light is the lowest frequency light
 Ultraviolet rays
 Shorter wavelengths than visible light, most of it
is absorbed in the ozone layer .
 Uses:
 Sterilizing medical equipment, eye surgery
(LASIK)
 Water disinfection ( Water purifier)
 Security images on money, detection of
forged documents.
 Gamma rays
 Smallest wavelengths, highest energy EM waves
 Uses
 Preserves food stuffs for a long time
 Cancer treatment
 Provides valuable information about the
structure of atomic nucleus
 X – rays
 Tiny wavelength, high energy waves
 Uses:
 Medical imaging
 Airport security
 Inspecting industrial welds
 In radio therapy