Electromagnetic

Waves
What are electromagnetic waves?

 How electromagnetic waves are formed

 How electric charges produce electromagnetic waves
 Properties of electromagnetic waves
Electromagnetic Waves…

 Do not need matter to transfer energy.

Electromagnetic Waves…

 Do not need matter to transfer energy.

 Are made by vibrating electric charges and can travel
through space by transferring energy between vibrating
electric and magnetic fields.
How do moving charges create
magnetic fields?
 Any moving electric charge is surrounded by an
electric field and a magnetic field.
What happens when electric and
magnetic fields change?

 A changing magnetic field creates a changing electric field.

What happens when electric and
magnetic fields change?

 A changing magnetic field creates a changing electric field.

 One example of this is a transformer which transfers electric
energy from one circuit to another circuit.
What happens when electric and
magnetic fields change?

 A changing magnetic field creates a changing electric field.

 One example of this is a transformer which transfers electric
energy from one circuit to another circuit.
 In the main coil changing electric current produces a
changing magnetic field
 Which then creates a changing electric field in another
coil producing an electric current
 The reverse is also true.
Making Electromagnetic Waves

 When an electric charge vibrates, the electric field

around it changes creating a changing magnetic field.
Making Electromagnetic Waves

 Themagnetic and electric fields create each other

again and again.
Making Electromagnetic Waves

 AnEM wave travels in all directions. The figure only

shows a wave traveling in one direction.
Making Electromagnetic Waves

 The electric and magnetic fields vibrate at right

angles to the direction the wave travels so it is a
transverse wave.
Properties of EM Waves

 All matter contains charged particles that are always

moving; therefore, all objects emit EM waves.
Properties of EM Waves

 All matter contains charged particles that are always

moving; therefore, all objects emit EM waves.
 The wavelengths become shorter as the temperature of the
material increases.
Properties of EM Waves

 All matter contains charged particles that are always

moving; therefore, all objects emit EM waves.
 The wavelengths become shorter as the temperature of the
material increases.
 EM waves carry radiant energy.
What is the speed of EM waves?

 All EM waves travel

300,000,000 m/sec in
space. (speed of light-
nature’s limit!)
What is the speed of EM waves?

 All EM waves travel Material Speed

300,000 km/sec in (km/s)
space. (speed of light- Vacuum 300,000
nature’s limit!)
 EM
Air <300,000
waves usually
travel slowest in solids Water 226,000
and fastest in gases.
Glass 200,000
Diamond 124,000
WHY???

 Why does EM waves travel slower in solid where as Mechanical waves travel
faster?
 Vice versa
What is the wavelength &
frequency of an EM wave?
 Wavelength= distance from crest to crest.
What is the wavelength &
frequency of an EM wave?
 Wavelength= distance from crest to crest.
 Frequency= number of wavelengths that pass a given point
in 1 s.
What is the wavelength &
frequency of an EM wave?
 Wavelength= distance from crest to crest.
 Frequency= number of wavelengths that pass a given point
in 1 s.
 As frequency increases, wavelength becomes….
What is the wavelength &
frequency of an EM wave?
 Wavelength= distance from crest to crest.
 Frequency= number of wavelengths that pass a given point
in 1 s.
 As frequency increases, wavelength becomes smaller.
Can a wave be a particle?

 In 1887, Heinrich Hertz discovered that shining light on a

metal caused electrons to be ejected.
Can a wave be a particle?

 In 1887, Heinrich Hertz discovered that shining light on a

metal caused electrons to be ejected.
 Whether or not electrons were ejected depended upon
frequency not the amplitude of the light! Remember energy
depends on amplitude.
Can a wave be a particle?

 Years later, Albert Einstein explained Hertz’s discovery:

EM waves can behave as a particle called a photon whose
energy depends on the frequency of the waves.
Can a particle be a wave?

 Electrons fired at two

slits actually form an
interference pattern
similar to patterns made
by waves
Can a particle be a wave?

 Electrons fired at two

slits actually form an
interference pattern
similar to patterns made
by waves
 Electromagnetic Waves

How they are formed Kind of wave Sometimes behave as

 Electromagnetic Waves

How they are formed Kind of wave Sometimes behave as

Waves made by Transverse with Waves or as
vibrating electric alternating electric
Particles (photons)
charges that can and magnetic fields
travel through space
where there is no
matter
The whole range of EM
wave…
 Frequencies is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
The whole range of EM
wave…
 Frequencies is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
 Different parts interact with matter in different ways.
The whole range of EM
wave…
 Frequencies is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
 Different parts interact with matter in different ways.
 The ones humans can see are called visible light, a small
part of the whole spectrum.
As wavelength decreases,
frequency increases…
Radio Waves

 Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the

electromagnetic spectrum longer than infrared light.

Naturally occurring radio waves are generated by lightning, or by

astronomical objects.

Artificially generated radio waves are used for fixed and mobile radio
communication, broadcasting, radar and other navigation systems,
communications satellites, computer networks and innumerable other
applications.
Cont…

 Radio waves are generated by radio transmitters and

received by radio receivers.
How does radar work?

 Radio Detecting And Ranging or radar is used to find

position and speed of objects by bouncing radio waves off
the object.
Microwaves

 Microwaves are radio waves with wavelengths less than 30 cm and higher
frequency & shorter wavelength.

Cell phones and satellites use microwaves between 1 cm & 20 cm for

communication
Microwave Oven

 In microwave ovens, a vibrating electric field causes water molecules to

rotate billions of times per second causing friction, creating Thermal
Energy which heats the food.
Infrared Waves

 EM with wavelengths between 1mm & 750 billionths of a meter.

 Used daily in remote controls, to read CD-ROMs
 Every objects gives off infrared waves; hotter objects give off more than
cooler ones. Satellites can identify types of plants growing in a region with
infrared detectors
Visible Light

 Range of EM humans can see from 750 billionths to 400

billionths of a meter.
 You see different wavelengths as colors.
 Blue has shortest
 Red is the longest
 Light looks white if all colors are present
Ultraviolet Waves

 EM waves with wavelengths from about 400 billionths to 10

billionths of a meter.
 Have enough energy to enter skin cells
 Longer wavelengths – UVA
 Shorter wavelengths – UVB rays
 Both can cause skin cancer
Can UV radiation be useful?

 Helps body make vitamin D for healthy bones and teeth

 Used to sterilize medical supplies & equip
 Detectives use fluorescent powder (absorbs UV & glows) to
find fingerprints
Ionisation

 Ionisation is the addition or  High frequency UV, X-rays and

removal of an electron to create gamma rays are ionising forms of
an ION. radiation.

 If the electron in atom absorb the  This leaves atoms positively

energy of these radiations, they charged.
have enough energy to escape
from the atom

 The electrons that have been

released can then collide with the
other atoms and create more ions.
Cont.…

 The ionisation of the atoms in our cells can lead to abnormal chemical reaction
and can break DNA molecules in the cell nuclei.

 Damage cell may die or they may mutate.

 If the body cannot replace the dead cells fast enough, it may develop diseases
(radiation sickness)

 Mutated cells can become cancerous and cancer may spread.

X Rays and Gamma Rays

 EM waves with shortest

wavelength & highest
frequency
 HighEnergy- go
through skin & muscle
 Highlevel exposure
causes cancer
X Rays and Gamma Rays

 EM with wavelengths  Thecomposite image

shorter than 10 trillionths shows the all sky
of a meter. gamma ray background.
 Highest energy, can travel
through several
centimeters of lead.
 Both can be used in
radiation therapy to kill
diseased cells.
Identify which statement is not
true:
 A. Gamma rays are low frequency waves.
 B. X rays are high-energy waves.
 C. Gamma rays are used to treat diseases.
Imaging techniques

These techniques include

X-rays,

Computed Tomography (CT) scans,

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Nuclear Imaging
X Rays

 X Rays were discovered by German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895

 A photographic film is placed under the part of the body being examined.
 Then short pulse of X Ray is directed at the precise area.

 The X Rays are mostly absorbed by the bones but they pass through soft
tissues.

 Then The transmitted X Rays strike the photographic film, turns that part
of the film from white to black.
CT Scans

 In this scan, a ring shaped apparatus rotates around the patient.

 A X-ray tube in the ring emits a beam of X-rays, which passes through the
patient at different angles as the ring rotates.

 The transmitted beams are incident

on an array of detectors
 The computer construct image of different slices through the body from
different angles.
How does X-ray generates
MRI

 Less harm than X rays?

MRI
An MRI scanner contains two powerful magnets; these are the most important
parts of the equipment.
 Magnets in MRI

The magnets in use today in MRI

systems create a magnetic field of 0.5-
tesla to 2.0-tesla, or 5,000 to 20,000
gauss

Most MRI systems use

a superconducting magnet, which
consists of many coils or windings of
wire through which a current of
electricity is passed, creating a
magnetic field of up to 2.0 tesla.
Gradient Coils in MRI
Radio Frequency Coil

 Radiofrequency coils (RF coils) are the "antennae" of the

MRI system, broadcasting the RF signal to the patient
and/or receiving the return signal.
 The human body is largely made of water molecules, which
are comprised of hydrogen and oxygen atoms

 At the centre of each atom lies an even smaller particle called a proton, which
serves as a magnet and is sensitive to any magnetic field.

 The first magnet causes the body's water molecules to align in one direction, either
north or south.
 How long will an MRI scan take?
MRI scans vary from 20-60 minutes depending on what part of
the body is being analyzed and how many images are
required.

 I have braces/filings, should I still undergo the scan?

They may distort the image. The MRI scan may take longer if
additional images are required.
 Can I move while I am in the MRI tunnel?
No, Any movement will distort the scanner and, therefore, the images produced
will be blurry.

 I am claustrophobic, what can I do?

Open MRI scanners are available in some locations to help patients with 
claustrophobia.

 Can pregnant woman have MRI?

MRI scans taken during the second and third trimester are safe at 3.0 tesla or less.
Nuclear Imaging

 The radio pharmaceutical is injected into patient.

 The radio isotopes decays emits gamma rays

 This emitted gamma rays transmitted through the patient’s tissue.

 The transmitted rays detected by a gamma camera.

What is AM radio?

In AM amplitude changes but frequency does

not. AM frequencies range from 540,000 Hz
to 1,6000,000 Hz usually listed in kHz.
What is FM radio?

 In FM radio stations transmit broadcast information by changing

the frequency of the carrier wave. The strength of FM waves is
always the same and is in megahertz. Mega=million
Television

 Uses radio waves to send electronic signals in a carrier

wave.
 Sound is sent by FM; color and brightness is sent at the
same time by AM signals.
Homework
 http://www.diaxray.com/services/vcu_full_body.html
 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146309.php