Electromagnetic

Wave Theory
Andre-Marie Ampere
Born 20 January 1775
Lyon, 
Kingdom of Franc
e
Died 10 June
1836 (aged 61)
Marseille, 
Kingdom of Franc
e
Nationality French
Fields Physics
Institutions École Polytechniq
ue

Known for Ampère's circuital

law
, 
Ampère's force la
w
✔one of the founders of the science
of classical electromagnetism, which he
referred to as "electrodynamics".
The SI unit of measurement of electric
current, the Ampere (A) is named after
him.
✔ demonstrated the magnetic effect based
on the direction of current
Michael Faraday

✔Formulated
the principle
behind
electromagnetic
induction
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (German)

✔proved the existence of

electromagnetic waves
theorized by James Clerk
Maxwell's electromagnetic
theory of light.
?
discovered the Hertzian
waves which is known
as radio waves.
James Clerk Maxwell

✔contributed developing
equations showing the
relationship of electricity and
magnetism
✔ Maxwell demonstrated
that electric and magnetic
fields travel through space
as waves moving at the speed
of light
Hans Christian Oersted

✔Showed how a
current carrying
wire behaves
like a magnet
Nature of Electromagnetic Waves

1. Electromagnetic Waves – transverse

waves that consist of changing
electric and magnetic fields
2. Electromagnetic Radiation – the
energy that is transferred by
electromagnetic waves
3. Speed of Electromagnetic waves – 3
x 10⁸ m/s in a vacuum
4. Light waves or Particles – light has
many of the properties of waves . But
light can also act as a stream of
particles.
5. Polarized Light – Light as a wave
can pass through a polarized filter.
PROOF OF LIGHT AS A WAVE
6. Photon – When light acts as
particles, the particles are called
photons
7. Photoelectric Effect – when a beam
of light shines on some substances, it
causes tiny particles called electrons to
move. PROOF OF LIGHT AS
PARTICLES!
8. All electromagnetic waves travel at
the same speed (3 x 10⁸) but they have
different wavelengths and different
frequencies

Speed = wavelength x frequency

Electromagnetic Waves
✔Transmission of energy through a
vacuum or using no medium , caused by
the osscilation of electric and magnetic
fields.
✔They move at a constant speed of
3x108 m/s. Often, they are
called electromagnetic radiation, light,
or photons.
EM wave
Let’s compare the
relative wavelengths,
frequencies and
energies of the
different regions of
the electromagnetic
spectrum.
 EM WAVE Wavelength (m) Frequency (Hz) Energy (J)

Radio wave > 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 x10-24 – 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

Visible 4 x 10-7 – 7 x 10-7 4 x 1014 – 7.5 x 3 x 10-19 – 5 x 10-

19
1014

Ultraviolet 1 x 10-8 – 4 x 10-7 7.5x 1014 – 3 x 5 x 10-19 – 2 x 10-

17
(UV) 1016

X-ray 1 x10-11 – 1x 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

Electromagnetic Spectrum
A continuum of
electromagnetic waves
arranged according to
frequency and wavelength
✔The different types of electromagnetic
waves are defined by the amount of energy
carried by / possessed by the photons
✔Photons are bundles of wave energy. The
energy of a photon is given by the equation :
E = hf
Where h is the Planck’s constant equals to
6.63 x 10 ⁻³⁴ Joules per second
Types of EM Characteris Sources Uses Effects Gadget for
waves detection
tics

Radio waves •Can pass Oscillating Telecommunicat Migraine/ Earphones

through walls circuits, stars ion, headache Diodes
•Longer range broadcasting Harm body cells Aerial antennae
•Not light
sensitive

Microwaves • extremely oscillating Locating objects Internal heating Satellite dishes

high frequency circuits, stars through radar of body tissue
radio waves system, cooking
Types of EM Characterist Sources Uses Effects Gadget for
waves detection
ics

Infrared •Discovered by Sun, heater •Night vision • sunburn • blackened bulb

an astronomer Any hot bodies equipment, thermometer
Sir Frederick •Thermography • thermopile
William Herschel • cooking • phototransistor
• short range
communication

Visible light • wavelengths that • sun, flame • allows for Skin cancer •Eye
are visible to most •Incandescent seeing the world • photofilm
human eyes objects • use in •Photoelectric
photosynthesis cell
• photography
 Types of Characteri Sources Uses Effects Gadget for
EM waves detection
stics
ultraviolet • frequency • sun • identification • risk of getting • fluorescence
higher than • electric spark of counterfeit skin cancer photographic
that of the • discharge notes • blindness film
visible light but tube • treatment of • can cause
lower than the • mercury skin complaints premature
x-rays vapor lamp • energy- aging of the
efficient lamp skin
• kill bacteria in • sunburn
food and
surgical
instruments
• helps in the
production of
Vitamin D and
absorption of
calcium
 Types of Characteri Sources Uses Effects Gadget for
EM waves detection
stics

X -rays • produced when • x –rays tubes • radio therapy • may damage •Photographic
electrons strike a • stars • radiography central nervous film
target or when system
electrons are • damage cells
rearranged
within an atom

Gamma rays • originate from • cobalt-60 • sterilization of • Can kill • Geiger-Muller

the nucleus of a medical healthy cells tube
radionuclide instruments • can cause •Photo film
after radioactive • diagnosis and genes to
decay treatment of mutate
diseases such
as cancer