CHAPTER 15

LESSON 2
Electromagnetic Waves

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Key Concepts
• What is the
What do you think? Read the two statements below and decide electromagnetic
whether you agree or disagree with them. Place an A in the Before spectrum?
column if you agree with the statement or a D if you disagree. After
• How do electromagnetic
you’ve read this lesson, reread the statements to see if you have
changed your mind. waves differ?

Before Statement After

3. Red light has the least amount of energy of
all colors of light.
4. A television remote control emits radiation.

Building Vocabulary Make

What is the electromagnetic a vocabulary card for each
spectrum? bold term in this lesson.
The waves that carry voices to your cell phone are Write each term on one
side of the card. On the
electromagnetic waves. So are the waves of energy that toast your
other side, write the
bread. Even the X-rays that a dentist uses to check the health of definition. Use your cards
your teeth are electromagnetic waves. to review the vocabulary
The changing motion of an electric charge produces each type for the lesson.
of electromagnetic wave. However, each type of wave has a
different frequency and wavelength. Also, each carries a different
amount of energy. Key Concept
Check
Electromagnetic waves might vibrate from a thousand times per 1. Classify What is the
second to trillions of times per second. They might be as large as a electromagnetic spectrum,
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education.

house or as small as an atom’s nucleus. The electromagnetic and how do

spectrum is the entire range of electromagnetic waves with electromagnetic waves
different frequencies and wavelengths. differ?

Classifying Electromagnetic Waves

Think about the colors of a rainbow. There are many shades
between each color. Each color gradually becomes another.
However, the electromagnetic spectrum is organized into groups
based on the wavelengths and frequencies of the waves. Like the
colors of a rainbow, each group gradually blends into the next.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum Electromagnetic Waves 459


Visual Check
2. Distinguish Which
types of electromagnetic
waves have wavelengths
that are too long for your
eyes to see?
Make an eight-layer book
to compare and contrast
the different types of
electromagnetic waves.
Reading Check
3. Explain How do
microwaves cook food?
460 Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Each numbered description below relates to a numbered wave
in the figure above. Notice how the wavelength, frequency, and
energy change among waves.
1. A radio wave is a low-frequency, low-energy
electromagnetic wave that has a wavelength longer than
about 30 cm. Some radio waves have wavelengths as long as
a kilometer or more. Radio waves are often used for
communication. The wavelengths are long enough to move
around many objects, but their energy is low enough that
they aren’t harmful. On Earth, radio waves are usually
produced by an electric charge moving in an antenna.
However, the Sun and other objects in space also produce
radio waves.
2. A microwave is a low-frequency, low-energy
electromagnetic wave that has a wavelength between
about 1 mm and 30 cm. Like radio waves, microwaves are
often used for communication. With shorter wavelengths
than radio waves, microwaves are less often scattered by
particles in the air. Microwaves are useful for satellite
communications because they can pass through Earth’s
upper atmosphere. A cell phone uses microwaves from
satellites. Because of the frequency range of microwaves,
food molecules such as water and sugar can absorb their
energy. This makes microwaves useful for cooking.
3. An infrared wave is an electromagnetic wave that has a
wavelength shorter than a microwave but longer than
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education.
light. Vibrating molecules in any matter, including your
body, emit infrared waves. You cannot see infrared waves,
but you can feel them when you are near a campfire. Your
skin senses infrared waves with longer wavelengths as
warmth. Infrared waves with shorter wavelengths do not
feel warm. A television remote control, for example, sends
out these waves.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
 4. Light is electromagnetic waves that your eyes can see. You
might describe light as red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
indigo, and violet. Red light has the longest wavelength and
lowest frequency. Violet light has the shortest wavelength
and the highest frequency. Each name represents a family
of colors, each with a range of wavelengths.
5. An ultraviolet wave is an electromagnetic wave that has
a slightly shorter wavelength and higher frequency than
light, and carries enough energy to cause chemical
reactions. Earth’s atmosphere prevents most of the Sun’s
ultraviolet rays from reaching Earth. But did you know that
you can get a sunburn on a cloudy day? This is because
ultraviolet waves carry enough energy to move through
clouds and to penetrate the skin. They can damage or kill
cells, causing sunburn or even skin cancer.
6. An X-ray is a high-energy electromagnetic wave that has
4. Apply On a cloudy day
a slightly shorter wavelength and higher frequency than
at the beach, do you need
an ultraviolet wave. Have you ever had an X-ray taken to to wear sunscreen? Why or
see if you had a broken bone? X-rays have enough energy to why not?
pass through skin and muscle. But the calcium in bone can
stop them. Scientists learn about objects and events in
space, such as black holes and star explosions, by studying
the X-rays they emit.
7. A gamma ray is a high-energy electromagnetic wave with
a shorter wavelength and higher frequency than all other
types of electromagnetic waves. Gamma rays are
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education.

produced when the nucleus of an atom breaks apart. They

have enough energy to kill living cells. Like X-rays, gamma
rays form in space during violent events, such as the Reading Check
explosion of stars.
5. Explain What creates
the high energy in a
gamma ray?

The Electromagnetic Spectrum Electromagnetic Waves 461

Mini Glossary
electromagnetic spectrum: the entire range of radio wave: a low-frequency, low-energy
electromagnetic waves with different frequencies electromagnetic wave that has a wavelength
and wavelengths longer than about 30 cm

gamma ray: a high-energy electromagnetic wave
with a shorter wavelength and higher frequency
than all other types of electromagnetic waves
infrared wave: an electromagnetic wave that has a
wavelength shorter than a microwave but longer
than light
microwave: a low-frequency, low-energy
electromagnetic wave that has a wavelength
between about 1 mm and 30 cm
ultraviolet wave: an electromagnetic wave that has
a slightly shorter wavelength and higher frequency
than light, and carries enough energy to cause
chemical reactions
X-ray: a high-energy electromagnetic wave that has
a slightly shorter wavelength and higher
frequency than an ultraviolet wave

1. Review the terms and their definitions in the Mini Glossary. Write a sentence that describes a way
that X-rays benefit people.

2. A wave’s wavelength, frequency, and energy are related. In the table, one factor is provided for
waves B and C. Write the other two factors for waves B and C. Use the figure in this lesson to help
you. Follow wave A as an example. Wave A shows that if frequency is higher, then energy also is
higher, but wavelength is shorter.

Relationship Between Wavelength, Frequency, and Energy

Wavelength Frequency Energy
(longer or shorter) (higher or lower) (higher or lower)
Wave A shorter higher higher Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education.

Wave B longer
Wave C higher

What do you think

Reread the statements at the beginning of the
lesson. Fill in the After column with an A if you Log on to ConnectED.mcgraw-hill.com
agree with the statement or a D if you dis- and access your textbook to find this END OF
agree. Did you change your mind? lesson’s resources. LESSON

462 Electromagnetic Waves The Electromagnetic Spectrum

 Lesson 2 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Predict three facts that will be discussed in Lesson 2 after reading the headings. Write your facts
in your Science Journal.

What is the Generalize the reason for the range of energy carried by waves in
electromagnetic the electromagnetic spectrum.
spectrum?
I found this on page
Each wave has a different and
.
, so

I found this on page Define the electromagnetic spectrum.

.

Classifying Characterize the electromagnetic spectrum.

Electromagnetic Waves
I found this on page wavelength
.
frequency
energy

Diagram:
Type of Wave
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education.

wavelength
frequency
energy

Electromagnetic Waves 463

 Lesson 2 | The Electromagnetic Spectrum (continued)

I found this on page Differentiate wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.

. The numbers in the boxes correspond to the art of the electromagnetic
spectrum shown in your book.

A. Identify the type of wave. 1

B. Describe the wave’s A. Radio wave
wavelength, frequency, and
energy. B.
C. Determine a use or
characteristic of the wave.

C.

2 3
A. A.

B. B.

C.
C.

I found this on page 4 5

. A. A. Ultraviolet wave

B. B.

C.
C.

6 7
A. X-ray A.

B. B.
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education.

C. C.

Envision a quick look around your home. Explain which type of electromagnetic
wave you think is most useful to your lifestyle and why.

464 Electromagnetic Waves