ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

What is an Electromagnetic wave?

Electromagnetic waves or EM waves are waves

that are created as a result of vibrations between
an electric field and a magnetic field. In other
words, EM waves are composed of oscillating
magnetic and electric fields.
Properties of Electromagnetic waves

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.

Electromagnetic waves can travel through a vacuum.

Electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum, the

speed of light.
Properties of Electromagnetic waves

It can be reflected

It can be refracted

Transfers Energy
Types of Electromagnetic waves in terms
of there wavelengths.

One thing that differentiates electromagnetic waves

is their wavelength. The wavelength is defined as the
distance between one wave crest to the next.
Electromagnetic waves vary in size. Their sizes
range from very long radio waves to very short
gamma rays. The amount of energy produced
depends on the size of the wavelength. The smaller
the wavelength, the higher the energy. Examples of
smaller wavelength-higher energy are x-rays and
gamma rays. Examples of bigger wavelength-lower
energy are microwaves, radio waves, and television
waves.
An electromagnetic
spectrum is the entire
distribution of
electromagnetic
radiation according to
frequency or
wavelength.
• A spectroscope is an
instrument that can be
use for visual
observations. The first
person to observe the
spectrum of a comet was
Giovanni Battista Donati
who was an Italian
astronomer.
Sources of electromagnetic waves

• Electromagnetic waves are waves that consist of vibrating electric and

magnetic fields. They transfer energy through matter or across space.
The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves is called
electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic waves are formed when an
electric field couples with a magnetic field. The magnetic and electric
fields of an electromagnetic wave are perpendicular to each other and
the direction of the wave.
Types of Electromagnetic waves
Radio Waves

These are the longest wavelength electromagnetic

waves that are used for communicating
information from radio, satellites, and radar. They
range from almost around a foot long to several
miles long.
Microwaves

• These waves are estimated in centimetres and

are used for communicating data and for
cooking food. Moreover, radar helps in
forecasting the climate. Microwaves are
valuable in communication since they can enter
clouds, smoke, and light rain. The universe is
loaded with cosmic microwave background
radiation that researchers accept are hints to the
origin of the universe they call the Big Bang.
 Infrared Waves

These waves are also called all-over infrared. The human body is an
example of a body that radiates infrared waves. In between
microwaves and visible light are infrared waves. Infrared waves are
sometimes classified as "near" infrared and "far" infrared. Near to
infrared waves are the waves nearer to visible light in frequency.
These are the infrared waves that are used in our TV remote to
change channels. Far infrared beams are further away from visible
light in wavelength. Far infrared waves are warm and radiate heat.
Anything that emits heat radiates infrared waves. This also includes
the human body!
Visible Light

The visible light range covers the frequencies that

should be visible to the human eye. Visible light
wavelength ranges between 390 and 700 nm.
Ultraviolet waves
Ultraviolet waves are acquired from the Sun.
Ultraviolet waves have the following shortest
frequency after visible light. Ultraviolet beams
from the Sun cause sunburns. We are safeguarded
from the sun's ultraviolet rays by the ozone layer. A
few insects, like honeybees, can see ultraviolet
light. Ultraviolet light is used by strong telescopes
like the Hubble Space Telescope to see faraway
stars.
 • X-rays: These light beams are used for medical
purposes to take pictures of bones. X-rays have
much shorter frequencies than ultraviolet rays.
At this point in the electromagnetic range,
researchers consider these rays more as a
greater number of particles than waves. X-rays
were found by German researcher Wilhelm
Roentgen. They can enter delicate tissue like
skin and muscle and are utilised to take X-ray
pictures of bones in medication.

X-Rays
 These beams are the shortest waves in the
electromagnetic spectrum. As the frequencies of
electromagnetic waves get shorter, their energy
increases. Gamma rays are the shortest waves in
the spectrum and, accordingly, have the most
energy. Gamma rays are sometimes used in
treating cancer and in taking detailed pictures for
diagnostic medication. Gamma rays are created in
high-energy nuclear blasts and cosmic explosions.

Gamma Rays
Thank you for listening to
our presentation!