EM RADIATION

AND MATTER
Investigation 12/Experience 3-Savvas
OBJECTIVES
• Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims of the effects
that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation
have when absorbed by matter.
• Evaluate evidence that some EM is converted into thermal
energy when absorbed by matter.
• Evaluate and communicate evidence that shorter
wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays,
gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to
living cells.
ENGAGE:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzFU6XvzzgA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ji0z4grTU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWJbmroDTvM
• Quantization of Energy Part 1: Blackbody Radiation and the Ultraviolet Catastr
ophe - YouTube
The following are just a few Real life examples of the many ways in which electromagnetic waves interact with
matter in our everyday lives.

• X-rays: X-rays are high-energy electromagnetic waves that can penetrate through soft tissue and bone. They are
used in medical imaging to diagnose a range of conditions, including broken bones, tumors, and dental problems.
• Microwave ovens: Microwave ovens use electromagnetic waves with a frequency of around 2.45 GHz to heat
food. The microwaves cause the water molecules in the food to vibrate, which generates heat and cooks the food.
• Solar panels: Solar panels convert light energy from the sun into electrical energy. They work by absorbing
photons of light, which cause electrons in the material to become excited and move through the material,
generating a flow of electrical current.

• TV and radio broadcasting: TV and radio signals are carried by electromagnetic waves that are transmitted
through the air. The waves are received by an antenna, which converts the waves into an electrical signal that can
be processed to produce sound and images.

• MRI scanners: MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners use a strong magnetic field and radio waves to
produce detailed images of the body's internal structures. The magnetic field causes the protons in the body's atoms
to align, and the radio waves cause them to emit signals that can be detected and used to create images.
 ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AND MATTER
Electromagnetic radiation and matter are two fundamental components of the physical world, and they are
closely related in a number of important ways.

Electromagnetic radiation refers to the propagation of energy through space in the form of waves or
particles that have both electric and magnetic components. This includes a wide range of phenomena,
from visible light and radio waves to X-rays and gamma rays. Electromagnetic radiation is characterized by
its wavelength or frequency, with shorter wavelengths corresponding to higher frequencies and higher
energies.

Matter, on the other hand, refers to anything that has mass and takes up space. This includes everything
from atoms and molecules to planets and stars. Matter can interact with electromagnetic radiation in a
variety of ways, depending on its composition and physical properties.
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AND MATTER
• One of the key ways in which matter interacts with electromagnetic radiation is through
absorption and emission.
• When electromagnetic radiation encounters matter, it can be absorbed by the material,
causing its atoms or molecules to become excited and jump to higher energy levels. As
these excited atoms or molecules relax back to their lower energy levels, they can emit
radiation in the form of light or other electromagnetic waves.

• This process is the basis for many of the technologies that rely on electromagnetic
radiation, such as lasers, microwave ovens, and X-ray machines. It is also essential for
many natural phenomena, such as photosynthesis in plants, the heating of the Earth's
atmosphere by the Sun, and the production of light by stars.

• Overall, the relationship between electromagnetic radiation and matter is complex and
multifaceted, and it plays a critical role in shaping our understanding of the physical
world.
 PHOTON-ELECTRON INTERACTIONS
An electron can absorb energy from a photon and jump to a higher energy level.
An electron emits energy as a photon when it jumps to a lower energy level.
PHOTON-ELECTRON INTERACTION:
! Let's take the example of a hydrogen atom, which has discrete energy levels. When an electron in a hydrogen atom moves
from a higher energy level to a lower one, a photon is emitted with a specific energy and frequency.

Suppose the electron is initially in the n=3 energy level, and it falls to the n=2 energy level. The energy difference between
these two levels can be calculated using the formula:
ΔE = E2 - E1

where E2 is the energy of the higher energy level (n=3), and E1 is the energy of the lower energy level (n=2).
The energy of an electron in the nth energy level of a hydrogen atom is given by the formula:
E = -13.6/n^2 eV

Using this formula, we can calculate the energies of the n=3 and n=2 energy levels:
E3 = -13.6/3^2 = -1.51 eV E2 = -13.6/2^2 = -3.40 eV
Now we can use the ΔE formula to calculate the energy difference:
ΔE = E2 - E1 = (-3.40 eV) - (-1.51 eV) = -1.89 eV

So the change in energy of the electron as it falls from the n=3 energy level to the n=2 energy level is -1.89 eV.
 EXAMPLE:
An electron from a neon atom absorbs a photon with a wavelength of 640nm and moves to an orbital of higher
energy level. the electron then returns to its initial state. what color of light will the emitted photon be? Justify

• When an electron absorbs a photon, it moves to a higher energy level. When it returns to its initial state, it emits a photon with a
wavelength corresponding to the energy difference between the two states.
• In this case, the electron in a neon atom absorbs a photon with a wavelength of 640 nm, which corresponds to a red color of light.
The electron moves to a higher energy level, and then returns to its initial state, emitting a photon with a lower energy and a longer
wavelength.
• To determine the wavelength of the emitted photon, we need to know the energy difference between the two energy levels involved.
We can use the formula: ΔE = hc/λ

• where ΔE is the energy difference, h is Planck's constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength of the absorbed photon.
ΔE = hc/λ = (6.626 x 10^-34 J s) x (3.0 x 10^8 m/s) / (640 x 10^-9 m) = 3.1 x 10^-19 J
This energy difference corresponds to the emission of a photon with a wavelength of:
λ = hc/ΔE = (6.626 x 10^-34 J s) x (3.0 x 10^8 m/s) / (3.1 x 10^-19 J) = 640 nm

Therefore, the emitted photon will have the same wavelength as the absorbed photon, which is 640 nm, and will also be red in color.
This phenomenon is known as fluorescence.
AN ABSORPTION SPECTRUM AND AN EMISSION SPECTRUM ARE BOTH
WAYS OF CHARACTERIZING THE INTERACTION OF PHOTONS WITH
MATTER.
• When a photon with a specific wavelength (or frequency) encounters an atom or molecule, it can be absorbed by exciting an
electron to a higher energy level. The resulting absorption spectrum is a plot of the intensity of light absorbed versus the
wavelength (or frequency) of the light.
• For example, if we pass white light through a gas, the gas will absorb specific wavelengths of light, resulting in dark lines or
bands in the spectrum. These dark lines represent the wavelengths of light that were absorbed by the gas. By comparing the
absorption spectrum of a material with a known set of spectra, we can identify the chemical composition of the material.
• On the other hand, an emission spectrum is the pattern of wavelengths of light that are emitted by a material. When an atom or
molecule is excited, such as by being heated or exposed to a high-energy photon, it can release energy in the form of photons. The
resulting emission spectrum is a plot of the intensity of light emitted versus the wavelength (or frequency) of the light.
• For example, if we heat a gas in a tube, the excited gas will emit light at specific wavelengths, resulting in bright
lines or bands in the spectrum. These bright lines represent the wavelengths of light that were emitted by the gas.
By analyzing the emission spectrum of a material, we can learn about its atomic structure and the energy levels of
its electrons.
 IN SUMMARY:
In summary, an absorption spectrum is a plot of the wavelengths of light that are
absorbed by a material, while an emission spectrum is a plot of the wavelengths of
light that are emitted by a material. Both spectra provide important information
about the interaction of photons with matter, and they are widely used in various
fields, including astronomy, chemistry, and physics.
Most stars emit photons of all frequencies.The outer layer of most stars are gases that are less dense than the star
cores. construct an explanation for how astronomers would use absorption spectra to study stars?

Astronomers use the absorption spectra of stars to study their composition, temperature, and other physical properties.
• When the light from a star passes through the outer layer of gas, the gas absorbs specific frequencies of light that
correspond to the energy transitions of its constituent atoms and molecules.
• This results in dark lines or bands in the spectrum, known as absorption lines.

• Astronomers use absorption spectra to study stars by analyzing the wavelengths of light that are absorbed by the
gases in the star's outer layer. When the light from a star passes through the outer layer, some of the light is absorbed
by the gases in the layer. The absorbed wavelengths correspond to the specific energy levels of the atoms or
molecules in the gases.
• The absorbed wavelengths appear as dark lines in the star's spectrum, which can be used to identify the chemical
composition of the gases in the outer layer. Each element or molecule absorbs light at specific wavelengths, resulting
in a unique absorption spectrum.
• By comparing the absorption spectra of stars with the known spectra of elements and molecules on Earth,
astronomers can determine the chemical composition of the star's outer layer. This information can be used to study
the star's physical properties, such as its temperature, density, and pressure.
BLACKBODY RADIATION
• A blackbody is an object that absorbs all radiation.
• Blackbody radiation is electromagnetic waves emitted by
a blackbody.
 Calculate the percent increase in heat an asphalt parking lot radiates on a hot sunny day when it is 35
degrees Celsius compared to a cold winter day when its is -20degrees Celsius

35 degrees Celsius is equivalent to 308 Kelvin, while -20 degrees Celsius is equivalent to 253 Kelvin.
(heat radiated on hot day)/(heat radiated on cold day) = (T_hot)^4/(T_cold)^4
(heat radiated on hot day)/(heat radiated on cold day) = (308 K)^4/(253 K)^4 = 2.51
Therefore, the amount of heat radiated by the asphalt parking lot on a hot day is 2.51 times the amount of heat
radiated on a cold day.
To calculate the percent increase, we can subtract 1 from this ratio and multiply by 100:
percent increase = (2.51 - 1) x 100% = 151%

So the asphalt parking lot radiates 151% more heat on a hot sunny day when it is 35 degrees Celsius compared
to a cold winter day when it is -20 degrees Celsius.
SUCCESS CRITERIA:

Demonstrate a solid understanding of the fundamental

principles of blackbody radiation.
Apply mathematical formulas related to blackbody
radiation.
ENGAGE: INTERACTIVE
DEMONSTRATIONS
 Blackbody radiation experiment.
 Polarization of light experiment.
 Absorption and emission of energy related to fluorescent light.
ENGAGE-EXPLORE AND
EXPLAIN:
 List few real life examples how EM radiation interacts with matter?
 Explain the difference between the regular light bulb and the fluorescent one.
 What conclusion can u make when putting the filter perpendicular to each other.
 Solve mathematical example to prove the polarization experiment.
 How can we see the radiation coming from a blackbody like a nail.
 Solve mathematical examples about radiosity and the peak wavelength.
ELABORATE: APPLY KNOWLEDGE
TOWARD NEW SITUATIONS.
1-Unpolarized light with intensity I0 passes through two polarizing
filters that are 90 degrees with respect to each other. What is the
intensity of light that emerges through filter in terms of I0?

2- A furnace radiates heat at a rate of 500W/m^2. Calculate the

temperature of the furnace assuming it behaves like a blackbody.

3- A PIECE OF METAL IS HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE OF 1200K.

WHAT IS THE PEAK WAVELENGTH OF ITS THERMAL RADIATION?
EVALUATE: KNOWLEDGE IS DEEPENED
AND EXTENDED.
Go on learn online and solve Exploring blackbody
radiation, radiosity and Wien's displacement law.