EM Waves Discoverer Year

GAMMA Paul Villard 1900 Frequency – number of waves passing a certain

Ernest Rutherford 1903 point per unit time
named gamma
William Henry Bragg
Hertz – SI unit of frequency
demonstrated gamma 1 Hertz = 1 wave/second
X-ray Wilhelm Conrad 1895
Roentgen EM wave – is a combination of magnetic and
Ultraviolet Johann Ritter 1801 electric fields that are propagating in space
Visible Light perpendicular to each other
Infrared William Herschel 1800
Microwaves Heinrich Hertz 1888
Radio waves Heinrich Hertz 1886

James Clerk Maxwell – proposed the existence of

electromagnetic waves. He developed equations that
showed the relationship between electricity and
magnetism

Electromagnetic spectrum – is a continuum of EM

waves arranged according to frequency and
wavelength.

Heinrich Hertz – proved the existence of

electromagnetic waves through an experiment

HERTZ’s EXPERIMENT

LAW1: As frequency increases, wavelength

decreases.
Sparks are produced in the spark balls (marked A)when high

voltage runs across the circuit. It was observed that similar

λ = v/f ; v = λf ; f= v/λ
where: v=velocity
sparks are produced on spark balls B.
f = frequency
λ= wavelength

LAW 2: As frequency increases, energy increases.

E= hf
where: E = energy
h = Planck’s constant
Wavelength – distance between two crests or two = 6.63 x 10−34 Joules /sec
troughs f = frequency
Sample Problem:
Calculate the frequency and energy of a 5-m
radio wave.
Given: λ = 5 m
v = c =300 000 000 m/s
Find: f = ?
f = v/λ = (300 000 000 m/s)/5 m
f= 60 000 000 Hz
Find: E =?
E = hf
=( 6.63 x 10−34 Joules /sec) (6 x 107 Hz)
E = 3.978 x 10−26Joules
THE EM Waves
1. Radio Wave – has the longest wavelength
and lowest frequency
SOURCE: produced by making electrons
vibrate in an antenna
USES: Radio communication (AM and FM)
and Television communication
2. Microwave – has smaller wavelength and
higher frequency than radio waves.
USES: Satellite communications, RADAR,
television transmission, cellphones and
cooking
3. Infrared – lies below the red end of the
visible spectrum .
SOURCE: It is emitted by hot objects.
USES: remote control, night-vision goggles for
security purposes, medical diagnoses, autofocus
cameras, industrial purposes, etc
4. Visible Light – is composed of the Solar
Spectrum ROYGBIV
RED- has the longest wavelength and
lowest frequency
Violet – has the shortest wavelength and
highest frequency
5. Ultraviolet radiation – lies above the violet
end of the visible spectrum. It is more energetic
than visible light.
USES: Sterilizing water, fluorescence
(detecting fake bills)
 UV radiation in sunlight produces vitamin D
in the skin and gives tanning effect.
RISK: Too much UV can cause skin cancer.
6. X-ray – has shorter wavelength but carries
higher energy than UV.
SOURCE: emitted when fast moving
electrons hit a metal target.
USES: Medical use, industry and
engineering applications
RISKS: X-rays can damage healthy living
cells of the body.
Too much exposure can damage body
tissues and can cause cancer.
7. Gamma- has the shortest wavelength and
highest frequency and most energetic
SOURCE: nucleus of an atom of radioactive
isotopes
USES: treat cancer (radiotherapy),
sterilization of drinking water, agriculture, food
preservation
RISKS: Very dangerous, can only be
blocked with lead and thick concrete. It can
cause cancer.
Important things to remember:
1. Waves transfer energy.
2. EM waves transfer energy in the form of radiation.
3. Unlike mechanical waves, EM waves can travel in a
vacuum or free space. It does not need a medium to
travel.
4. EM waves are produced by accelerating electrons.
5. EM waves are transverse waves.
Match the scientists given below with their
contributions:

Scientists Contributions

___1. Ampere a. Contributed in developing

equations that showed the relationship

of electricity and magnetism

___2. Faraday

b. Showed experimental evidence of electromagnetic

waves and their link to light

___3. Hertz

c. Demonstrated the magnetic effect based on the

direction of
current

___4. Maxwell d. Formulated

the principle
behind
electromagneti
c induction

____5. Oersted e. Showed

how a current
carrying wire
behaves like a
magnet.