THE

ELECTROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM
CONSIDER THIS…
Around us, millions of waves are travelling back and forth.
Most of these waves aren’t dangerous.
The waves are combined together to form something called
the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EM Spectrum).
Each wave has a certain frequency and wavelength.
The less dangerous waves have a low frequency and long
wavelength.
The further up the spectrum you get, the waves start to have
higher frequencies and shorter wavelengths.
 THE SPECTRUM
Low These waves
These waves High
frequency and aren’t that
are very frequency and
long dangerous
dangerous short
wavelength
wavelength

Radio Waves Infrared Ultraviolet Gamma Rays

Visible
Microwaves X-Rays

About the size of…

Pinpoint Molecules
Atomic
Buildings Atoms Nuclei
Humans Honey
bee Protozoans
 RADIO WAVES
Radio waves are hardly dangerous at all. These are mainly
the waves that are travelling around you. Of course, they
aren’t visible. But we know they are there because they
transmit from certain devices and other devices receive
them.
Transmitters of radio waves can sometimes be natural.
Sparks and lightning transmit radio waves, which is why you
get radio interference during a thunderstorm.
• Long wave: Around 1-2km in length
• Medium wave: Used by BBC Radio 5 (around
100m in length)
• VHF: ‘Very High Frequency’. 2m in length. Used
by BBC Radio 1
BBC
• UHF: ‘Ultra High Frequency’. Used by Police
Transmitter and TV transmissions. Less than a metre in length.
MICROWAVES
Microwaves are a type of wave used by Mobile Phones and of
course, a microwave itself.
Microwaves are used to cook various types of food, as the
molecules vibrate which cause them to become hot.
Mobile Phones use microwaves. But because they are small,
it needs sight of a transmitter. This is why sometimes you get
a low signal on your phone.
Microwaves are also used for radar.
INFRARED
Infrared waves are given off by hot objects, including yourself!
Remote controls use infrared light.
You can use infrared light to see in the dark.
The police use thermal imaging (which use IR waves) during the night to
locate criminals. IR waves are useful for high speed chases because if the
criminal leaves the car somewhere and runs, the police will be able to pickup
the heat from the car using thermal imaging.
The military also use thermal imaging to locate enemies in scopes, usually
with snipers.

Thermal
Imaging
camera
VISIBLE LIGHT
Visible light is what you see. The waves are given off by
anything hot enough to glow.
A good example of this is the Sun. It is around 5600 degrees.
White light is actually a range of colours mixed together to
form one. If you pass white light through a prism, the light
will refract.

Refraction
ULTRAVIOLET (UV)
Ultraviolet light is given off in great quantities by the Sun
which is what causes sunburns.
Ultraviolet is used in sun beds, as it ‘tans’ your body.
It is also used greatly in detecting forged bank notes.
Large doses of UV light can cause skin cancer, which is why
scientists say that you shouldn’t use sun beds and when it’s
very hot weather, you should use sun cream.
UV light attracts insects so restaurants
and fish bars use lamps to attract the
insects away from the food then
electrocute them.

UV Lamp
X-RAYS
X-Rays are usually used by doctors to examine your body or
a part of your body.
This is good for security too, as people can examine your
body to check if you have any harmful weapons or
substance on you (airports, etc).
X-Rays can cause cell damage and a variety of cancers.

X-Ray of the
skull
GAMMA RAYS
The most powerful electromagnetic wave are Gamma waves.
Gamma rays can kill living cells, making them very
dangerous.
However, doctors use them to kill cancer cells. This is called
Radiotherapy.