E L EC TROM AG N E TI C WAV ES A N D TH E

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

Learning Competency: Compare the relative wavelengths of

different forms of electromagnetic waves. Explain the effects of
EM radiation on living things and the environment.
 OVERVIEW OF
ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAV E S :

 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES ARE ENERGY-

CARRYING WAVES GENERATED BY THE
ACCELERATION OF CHARGED PARTICLES.

 THEY INCLUDE VARIOUS FORMS SUCH AS

RADIO WAVES, MICROWAVES, INFRARED,
VISIBLE LIGHT, ULTRAVIOLET, X-RAYS, AND
GAMMA RAYS.
 THE
ELECTROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM:

 THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

ENCOMPASSES ALL ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES ARRANGED BASED ON THEIR
FREQUENCIES OR WAVELENGTHS.

 IT IS DIVIDED INTO DIFFERENT

REGIONS, EACH WITH SPECIFIC
CHARACTERISTICS AND APPLICATIONS.
 R E L AT I V E
WAV E L E N G T H S O F
DIFFERENT FORMS:

 LONGEST WAVELENGTH IN THE

SPECTRUM.

 USED IN COMMUNICATION,
BROADCASTING, AND RADAR.
 M I C R O WAV E S :

 SHORTER THAN RADIO WAVES,

LONGER THAN INFRARED.

 USED IN MICROWAVE OVENS

AND CERTAIN COMMUNICATION
DEVICES.
 INFRARED:

 LONGER THAN VISIBLE LIGHT, SHORTER THAN

MICROWAVES.

 PERCEIVED AS HEAT; USED IN NIGHT VISION

TECHNOLOGY.
 V I S I B L E L I G H T:

 PERCEIVED BY THE HUMAN EYE.

 DIFFERENT COLORS REPRESENT DIFFERENT

WAVELENGTHS.
  SHORTER THAN VISIBLE LIGHT, LONGER THAN X-RAYS.
U LT R AV I O L E T:
 CAUSES SUNBURN, USED IN STERILIZATION
PROCESSES.
 X - R AY S :

 SHORTER WAVELENGTH; PENETRATES TISSUES.

 USED IN MEDICAL IMAGING.

 G A M M A R AY S :

SHORTEST WAVELENGTH AND USED IN MEDICAL TREATMENTS

HIGHEST ENERGY. AND STERILIZATION.
E F F E C T S O F E L E C T R O M A G N E T I C R A D I AT I O N O N
LIVING THINGS:

- IONIZATION: HIGH-ENERGY - THERMAL EFFECTS:

WAVES (X-RAYS, GAMMA RAYS) INFRARED AND MICROWAVES
CAN IONIZE ATOMS, CAN GENERATE HEAT,
POTENTIALLY CAUSING LEADING TO THERMAL
CELLULAR DAMAGE. EFFECTS.

- NON-IONIZING RADIATION:
- ULTRAVIOLET EFFECTS: UV
RADIO WAVES AND
RADIATION CAN CAUSE SKIN
MICROWAVES ARE GENERALLY
DAMAGE AND INCREASE THE
CONSIDERED SAFE AT TYPICAL
RISK OF SKIN CANCER.
EXPOSURE LEVELS.
 E F F EC T S O N T H E E N V I R O N M E N T:

IMPACT ON WILDLIFE:
OZONE DEPLETION:
SOME STUDIES SUGGEST
CERTAIN WAVELENGTHS,
POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON
PARTICULARLY IN THE UV
WILDLIFE BEHAVIOR AND
REGION, CAN CONTRIBUTE
MIGRATION PATTERNS DUE
TO OZONE LAYER
TO ELECTROMAGNETIC
DEPLETION.
SIGNALS.