ELECTROMAGNETIC

SPECTRUM
By. Mr. Todd
Notes Provided by Mr. Martonik
BrieI review:
Water and sound waves transfer energy
from one place to another- they require a
medium through which to travel. They are
mechanical waves.
Electric field-region in which charged
particles can be pushed or pulled.
ature of Electromagnetic Waves
W They are Transverse waves without a medium. (They
can travel through empty space)
W They travel as vibrations in electrical and magnetic
fields.
W ave some magnetic and some electrical properties to
them.
W Speed oI electromagnetic waves 300,000,000
meters/second (Takes light 8 minutes to move Irom the
sun to earth 150 million miles} at this speed.)
W hen an electric Iield changes, so does the
magnetic Iield. The changing magnetic Iield causes
the electric Iield to change. hen one Iield
vibratesso does the other.
W RESULT-An electromagnetic wave.
W Click here nimation: Interaction of vibrating
charges
Waves or Particles
W Electromagnetic radiation has properties oI waves but
also can be thought oI as a stream of particles.
W Example: Light
W Light as a wave: Light behaves as a transverse wave
which we can Iilter using polarized lenses.
W Light as particles (photons)
W hen directed at a substance light can knock electrons
oII oI a substance (Photoelectric eIIect)
. Waves of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
W Electromagnetic Spectrumname Ior the range oI
electromagnetic waves when placed in order oI increasing Irequency
W Click here (nimationSize oI EMwaves)
RIO
W'ES
MICROW'ES
IRRE
RS
'ISIE IGHT
UTR'IOET
RS
X-RS
GMM
RS
RADIO AVES
W A. ave the longest wavelengths and lowest
Irequencies oI all the electromagnetic waves.
W B. A radio picks up radio waves through an antenna and
converts it to sound waves.
W C. Each radio station in an area broadcasts at a diIIerent
Irequency. # on radio dial tells Irequency.
W D. MRI (MAGNETIC RESONACE IMAGING)
Uses Short wave radio waves with a magnet to create an
image
MRI oI the Brain
AMmplitude modulationwaves bounce oII ionosphere can
pick up stations Irom diIIerent cities.
(535kz-1605kz vibrate at 535 to 1605 thousand times/second)
+
Mrequency modulationwaves travel in a straight line &
through the ionosphere--lose reception when you travel out oI range.
(88Mz-108Mz vibrate at 88million to 108million times/second)
+
Bands oI Radio/TV/Microwaves
MICROAVES
W Microwaveshave the shortest wavelengths and
the highest Irequency oI the radio waves.
Used in microwave ovens.
W aves transIer energy to the water in the Iood causing them
to vibrate which in turn transIers energy in the Iorm oI heat to
the Iood.
Used by cell phones and pagers.
RR (Radio Detection and Ranging)
W Used to Iind the speed oI an object by sending out radio
waves and measuring the time it takes them to return.
INRARED RAYS
W Infrared below red
W Shorter wavelength and higher Irequency than
microwaves.
W You can Ieel the longest ones as warmth on your skin
W eat lamps give oII inIrared waves.
W arm objects give oII more heat energy than cool objects.
W Thermograma picture that shows regions oI diIIerent
temperatures in the body. Temperatures are calculated by
the amount oI inIrared radiation given oII. ThereIore
people give oII inIrared rays.
VISIBLE LIGT
W Shorter wavelength and higher Irequency than
inIrared rays.
W Electromagnetic waves we can see.
W ongest wavelength red light
W Shortest wavelength violet (purple) light
W hen light enters a new medium it bends
(reIracts). Each wavelength bends a diIIerent
amount allowing white light to separate into it`s
various colors ROGI'.
ULTRAVIOLET RAYS
W Shorter wavelength and higher Irequency than
visible light
W Carry more energy than visible light
W Used to kill bacteria. (Sterilization oI equipment)
W Causes your skin to produce vitamin (good Ior
teeth and bones)
W Used to treat jaundice ( in some new born babies.
W Too much can cause skin cancer.
W Use sun block to protect against (UV rays)
- RAYS
W Shorter wavelength and higher Irequency than UV-rays
W Carry a great amount oI energy
W Can penetrate most matter.
W ones and teeth absorb x-rays. (The light part oI an x-
ray image indicates a place where the x-ray was absorbed)
W Too much exposure can cause cancer
(lead vest at dentist protects organs Irom unnecessary exposure)
W Used by engineers to check Ior tiny cracks in structures.
The rays pass through the cracks and the cracks appear dark on
Iilm.
GAMMA RAYS
W Shorter wavelength and higher Irequency than -
rays
W Carry the greatest amount of energy and
penetrate the most.
W Used in radiation treatment to kill cancer cells.
W Can be very harmIul iI not used correctly.
Using the EM waves to view the Sun
AnimationView a Galaxy at diIIerent wavelengths
W BrieI SUMMARY
W . ll electromagnetic waves travel at the
same speed. (300,000,000 meters/second in a
vacuum.
W B. They all have diIIerent wavelength and
diIIerent frequencies.
Long wavelength-lowest Irequency
Short wavelength highest Irequency
The higher the Irequency the higher the energy.