Electromagnetic spectrum

• The electromagnetic spectrum is

more familiar to you than you might
think. The microwave you use to
heat your food and the cell phones
you use are part of the
Electromagnetic Spectrum. The light
that our eyes can see is also part of
the electromagnetic spectrum. This
visible part of the electromagnetic
spectrum consists of the colors that
we see in a rainbow - from reds and
oranges, through blues and purples.

• Each of these colors actually

corresponds to a different
wavelength of light.
 What are electromagnetic
waves?
• Electromagnetic waves are formed when an electric field
(shown as blue arrows) couples with a magnetic field
(shown as red arrows). The magnetic and electric fields
of an electromagnetic wave are perpendicular to each
other and to the direction of the wave.
 What speed do they move?
• Electromagnetic
waves move at a
speed of 299,792,458
metres per second
(yes, you can round it
up to 3 x 108 m/s. In
other media, their
speed is less
 Electromagnetic Waves have
different wavelengths
• Radio waves, television
waves, and microwaves
are all types of
electromagnetic waves.
They differ from each
other in wavelength.
Wavelength is the
distance between one
wave crest to the next.
• EM waves are typically described by any
of the following two physical properties:
the frequency f and wavelength λ,

The frequencies and

wavelenghts of
electromagnetic
waves are related by
the equation:
Energy of electromagnetic waves

All frequencies in the

electromagnetic
spectrum transmit
energy at the speed
of light. That’s why
energy can be
transferred by
radiation (energy from
the sun to the earth,
the microwaves
oven…)
 How to calculate energy for
electromagnetic waves
This energy is carried in smalll packs called
photons. The energy per photon of an
electromagnetic wave can be calculated from the

E  hf
Planck–Einstein equation:
.

where E is the energy, h is Planck's constant,

and f is frequency
h = 6.626 × 10−34 joule-second
How do the waves fit into the
electromagnetic spectrum?
 Regions of the Electromagnetic
Spectrum
Listed below are the approximate wavelength, frequency, and energy
limits of the various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Wavelength (m) Frequency (Hz) Energy (J)

Radio > 1 x 10-1 < 3 x 109 < 2 x 10-24

Microwave 1 x 10-3 - 1 x 10-1 3 x 109 - 3 x 1011 2 x 10-24- 2 x 10-22

Infrared 7 x 10-7 - 1 x 10-3 3 x 1011 - 4 x 1014 2 x 10-22 - 3 x 10-19

Optical 4 x 10-7 - 7 x 10-7 4 x 1014 - 7.5 x 1014 3 x 10-19 - 5 x 10-19

UV 1 x 10-8 - 4 x 10-7 7.5 x 1014 - 3 x 1016 5 x 10-19 - 2 x 10-17

X-ray 1 x 10-11 - 1 x 10-8 3 x 1016 - 3 x 1019 2 x 10-17 - 2 x 10-14

Gamma-ray < 1 x 10-11 > 3 x 1019 > 2 x 10-14

How do I remember all this?

   
Try: meaning:
Rabbits Radio
Mate Microwaves
In Infra-Red
Very Visible light
Unusual Ultra-violet
eXpensive X-rays
Gardens Gamma rays
 Radio waves
The wavelengths of radio waves are long compared to other types of
electromagnetic waves—they range in length from 10,000 kilometers to less
than a meter.
Human-made radio waves are generated when electrons, which are negatively
charged, move back and forth within an antenna. This movement of charged
particles creates a field that radiates out from the antenna at the speed of light.

The radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum

is divided into bands. Some bands are dedicated to
commercial, government, aviation, and maritime
purposes.

Television stations use radio waves to broadcast

their signals through the air, just as broadcast radio
stations do. In fact, the TV band for channels 2-6 is
next to the FM radio band
 Microwaves
Microwave uses include finding planes in the sky and
speeders on the ground (radar), sending a TV signal
from a station to a broadcasting antenna
(communication), and heating hot dogs (microwave
ovens).
Can you feel the heat? (Well, INFRARED
imagine that you can.) You're in
the infrared section of the
electromagnetic spectrum. This
part of the spectrum is also
called radiant heat.

From people to planets, from

incense candles to ice cubes, all
objects give off infrared
radiation. This radiation comes
from the thermal motion of
molecules. Naturally, the
warmer an object is, the more
infrared radiation it emits. An
object that absorbs more
infrared radiation than it
releases becomes warmer.
 Infrared radiation (2)
Infrared radiation is just below the red end
of the visible spectrum. As the temperature
of an object increases, it emits more IR
radiation and of shorter wavelenghts, At
500ºC most pbjects start to emit visible red
light as well.

Infrared is used in night vision equipment when

there is insufficient visible light to see. It can be
used to remotely determine the temperature of
objects (if the emissivity is known). This is termed
thermography. Infrared tracking, also known as
infrared homing, refers to a passive missile
guidance system which uses the emission from a
target of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared
part of the spectrum to track it.
 Infrared radiation (3)
Infrared radiation can be Weather satellites
used as a deliberate heating equipped with
source. For example it is scanning radiometers
used in infrared saunas to produce thermal or
heat the occupants, and also infrared images which
to remove ice from the wings can then enable a
of aircraft (de-icing). trained analyst to
determine cloud
heights and types, to
calculate land and
IR data transmission is surface water
also employed in short- temperatures, and to
range communication locate ocean surface
among computer features
peripherals and
personal digital assistants
 The Visible Spectrum
Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain. = Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue,
Indigo, and Violet. are the colours of the visible spectrum. We cannot see
Infra-red, but we can feel it warm our skin when we sit in the sun. Infra-red
has a longer wavelength (less energy) than Red light. We cannot see Ultra-
violet light, but we feel our skin has been burnt by the sun if we were in the
sun too long yesterday. It is the Ultra-violet which is thought to cause skin
cancer. UV light has a shorter wavelength (more energy) than visible light.
 Ultraviolet radiation

• Extends from end of the

visible light range to the
X-ray region.
• Has a low power of
penetration; hence, its
direct effects on the
human body are limited to
the surface skin.
• It stimulates the
production of vitamin
D in the skin
 Ultraviolet Radiation (2)
• There are three categories of UV
radiation:
– UV-A, between 320 and 400 nm
– UV-B, between 280 and 320 nm
– UV-C, between 200 and 280 nm

• Stratospheric Oxygen and Ozone

molecules absorb 97-99% of the
sun's high freguency Ultraviolet light

• Without the layer of ozone in the

stratosphere to protect us from
excessive amounts of UV-B
radiation, life as we know it would
not exist
 Some questions…
• Which is the frequency of an infrared wave
whose wavelength is 0.5 mm?
• Find the wavelength and frequency of a
gamma ray photon that carries an energy
equal to 10-12 Joules
• Which type of electromagnetic waves have
an energy of 4 x 10-19 Joules?
 X-rays
• THEY CANNOT BE SEEN OR
FELT. X-RAYS MOSTLY PASS
THROUGH SKIN AND SOFT
TISSUE, BUT THEY DO NOT
EASILY PASS THROUGH BONE
OR METAL.
• X-RAYS ARE USED TO
PRODUCE PHOTOGRAPHS OF
BONES TO CHECK FOR
DAMAGE SUCH AS FRACTURES.
THEY ARE ALSO USED IN
INDUSTRY TO CHECK METAL
COMPONENTS AND WELDS FOR
CRACKS OR OTHER DAMAGE.
• LOWER DOSES OF X-RAYS CAN
CAUSE CELLS TO BECOME
CANCEROUS
 Gamma radiation
• These are the most energetic wavelengths of light, and they have
the shortest wavelengths. Scientists know very little about what
produces these wavelengths in outer space.
• They can pass through many kinds of materials, including human
tissue. Very dense materials, such as lead, are commonly used as
shielding to slow or stop gamma photons.
• They are used for:
– cancer treatment
– measure and control the flow of liquids in numerous industrial
processes
– sterilize medical equipment in hospitals
– pasteurize certain foods and spices