P15 – Electromagnetic Spectrum 05/02/23

Lesson objective(s): Key

 I will be able to name the seven waves of the EMS in correct words:
order by frequency EMS
 I can name the seven colours of the visible spectrum Visible
 I can name the uses of some of the waves
 I can name the harmful effects of the waves

Do Now…
1) Name the seven waves of the electromagnetic spectrum
Gamma, X-ray, Ultra-violet, Visible, Infra-red, microwave,
radiowave
The speed of ALL electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is 3.0 × 108 m / s.
Travel with the same high speed in a vacuum & approximately the same in
air.
From left to right:
1) The wavelength decreases
2) The frequency increases
3) The amount of Photon energy that the wave has increased as the
frequency increases
Transverse: a wave vibrating perpendicular (right angle or 90o) to direction
of energy transfer (1 mark)

Three properties for all electromagnetic waves:

- all travel at same speed (1 mark)
- are transverse waves (1 mark)
- have electric and magnetic field components (1 mark)
 Gamma rays

- Gamma rays are produced by radioactive materials.

- It has a high frequency and so can penetrate through most materials
and cause gene mutation and cancer.
- When controlled, it can be used in the sterilisation of medical
equipment.
- It can also be used to detect the presence of cancer and its treatment.
 X-rays

i) Medicine
ii) security
 X-rays

Direct exposure to X-rays can cause gene mutations – electrons can be

knocked off of atoms, causing unwanted reactions.

Sometimes, the reactions are harmless or cause mutations that cause no

change in the operation of the cell (these mutations are called silent
mutations). On the other hand, if the mutation is serious enough, it may kill
cells, cause cancer, etc.

Effect(s): ionising radiation damages cells (1 mark)

ionising radiation causes cancer (1 mark)
ionising radiation damages mutations (1 mark)

Safety: Doctor stand behind a lead screen (1 mark)

Doctor leaves the room (1 mark)
Doctor operates the X-ray machine from behind a screen (1 mark)
 X-rays

The function of lead

lead absorbs X-rays (1 mark)

stops X-rays passing through (1 mark)
 Ultraviolet

Demonstrate an understanding of safety issues regarding the use of:

- Safely and used in tanning booths

- Fluorescent substances only fluoresce upon being illuminated by UV
- Used to detect forged bank notes (real ones often have markings only
visible under UV light)
- Used as security markers (again, markers only visible under UV light,
that tells us that the object it is present on is authentic and not a fake)
- UV light is also used to disinfect water

Effect(s): it causes cancer (1 mark)

it causes mutation (1 mark)
 Visible Light

- emitted by bulbs, lamps that is visible to us

- used in optic fibres
 Infrared

i) electrical appliances
ii) remote controllers for televisions
iii) burglar alarms
iv) They are also used in optic fibres

Infrared waves are absorbed by the

surface of most objects too, causing
them to warm up

As infrared waves are easily

absorbed, and can’t penetrate many
things, they are used in numerous
systems
 Microwaves

i) satellite television
ii) telephones

a) Carry kinetic energy and will cause

particles, mainly water
b) Vibrate faster, increasing
temperature
c) Can cause internal heating of body
tissues
 Radio waves

i) radio communication
ii) television communications

- Long wavelengths
- Low frequencies of
- absorbed and scattered
allowing them to be
transmitted long distances
- It also allows them to be
reflected from the Earth’s
ionosphere (a layer in the
atmosphere) so it can travel
even further.
P15 – Dispersion of light 05/02/23

Lesson objective(s): Key

 I will be able to name the seven colours of light after white words:
light had been passed through a triangle prism Roy G Biv
Wavelength
 I will be able to explain why different colours of light refract
refraction
at different frequencies

Do Now…
 Name the reason why lead is used during X-rays in the
hospital (2 marks)
lead absorbs X-rays (1 mark)
stops X-rays passing through (1 mark)
What is Light Dispersion?

•When light enters a denser medium, such as glass, it slows down

(refracts), which causes it to bend
•Different colours, however, slow down by different amounts, which
causes them to bend by different amounts
•This effect is known as dispersion and can be used to separate white
light into its individual colours
When white light is shone through a prism it is dispersed into its
individual colours
•The seven colours of the spectrum are:

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet

•You can remember these colours either by remember the name:
Roy G. Biv
When light enters a different medium, the change in wavelength and
speed depends slightly on the frequency of the wave. The higher the
frequency, the higher the change in speed. We call this effect dispersion.
When white light is passed
through a prism, it refracts and
disperses into those seven
colours

Lowest frequency: lowest

refraction. i.e.: red

Highest frequency: highest

refraction. i.e.: violet