Electromagnetic Waves

Features
- Transverse waves made up of electrical and magnetic field components
- Speed of electromagnetic wave in an empty space: c = 3.0 x 10^8 m/s
- Travel slower in denser materials with molecules closer to one another
- Light is faster in air than in water and travels fastest in a vacuum

Parts
- Nodes: points where displacement is zero or the points in the middle
- Antinodes: displacement is maximum or minimum
- Crest: highest point
- Trough: lowest point
- Amplitude: distance between the crest or through
- Wave height: distance between antinodes/crest and through

Parts of a transverse wave

- Wavelength (λ): distance between identical points; unit: meter (m)
- Frequency: number of complete waves that pass a point per unit time; unit: Hertz (Hz)
1/s, s^-1
- Period (T): time it takes for the to finish one complete wavelength to pass through a
point; unit: seconds (s)
- Note: the frequency is inversely related to the period of a wave f = 1/T, T = 1/f
- Speed (v): how fast wave travel; unit: meter per second (m/s); solution: v = λ/T = λ/(1/f)
= λf; for light traveling in a vacuum or empty space, you can readily obtain the period or
frequency from a given wavelength and vice versa since the speed is a constant
quantity.; solution: v = λf, c = λf

Electromagnetic waves
- classified based on their wavelengths
- Examples
- radio waves
- microwave
- infrared
- visible light
- ultraviolet
- X-ray
- gamma ray

Types of electromagnetic waves

EM Wave / Wavelength / Other Details
- Radio wave / Just above one meter / Longest wavelength Infrared / Between 1 mm and
700 nm (7 x 10^-7 m to 1 x 10^-3 m) / Called infrared because their frequency is just
below of red light
 - Visible Light / Between 700 nm and 400 nm / What our eyes can see ROYGBV
(decreasing wavelengths)
- Ultraviolet / Between 400 nm and 10 nm (1 x 10^-8 m to 4 x 10^-7 m) / Called ultraviolet
because frequency is higher than violet light
- X-ray / Between 10 nm and 100 pm (1 x 10^-10 m – 1 x 10^-8 m) / Highest amount of
energy
- Gamma ray / Less than 100 pm / pass through several opaque materials (human body
tissues)

Use in nature
1. Bioelectromagnetics: branch of science studying the interaction between organisms and
electromagnetic fields
2. Photosynthesis: electromagnetic waves in the form of light as an energy source for food
production. breaking of water bonds into oxygen molecules and hydrogen atoms by
using light energy
3. Bioluminescence: electromagnetic emission in the form of light (through chemical
reactions) in living organisms. camouflage, illumination, defense, luring, sexual
attraction. electromagnetic emission in the form of light (through chemical reactions) in
living organisms. camouflage, illumination, defense, luring, sexual attraction.
electromagnetic emission in the form of light (through chemical reactions) in living
organisms. camouflage, illumination, defense, luring, sexual attraction

Application in technology
1. Long distance communications: rely on transmission and reception of EM waves (radio
waves and microwaves). using radios, televisions, tracking devices, satellites, and space
probes. Antenna converts electrical signals into radio signals and vice versa.
Transmission is the process in which an antenna converts electric current to radio
waves. Reception is the process in which an antenna converts received radio wave
signals to electric current. Amplitude modulation (AM) - difference in the amplitudes of
the waves of this signal and carrier is varied. Frequency modulation (FM) - difference in
frequency is varied. AM radio signals have bigger reach. However, it is harder to
eliminate interference on AM thus music is normally transmitted using FM. AM is used
for voice communications and broadcasts. Microwaves are also used in long distance
communication for systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation
and mapping.
2. Short distance communications: require the use of EM waves most applications require
higher- energy EM waves such as microwave and infrared rays. Wireless Local Area
Network (WLAN) uses microwaves to enable communications between the Wireless
Access Point or WAP (the device that serves as hub or center of LAN), and the terminals
(computers). Remote controls, such as those used in operating televisions, air
conditioners, and other appliances, use infrared signals to operate.
3. Night Vision Systems: work by using infrared radiation as an additional input to visible
light in producing images. Infrared emissions are associated with warm surface, or those
 with a higher relative temperature compared with the environment. CCTV cameras can
be equipped with night vision apparatus.
4. X-Ray Techniques: In ports, airports, and other establishments that require high security,
X-ray scanners are used to detect what is inside luggage and boxes that enter these
establishments.
5. LASER: A laser device is made of a tube with mirrors on both ends and a material that
can be stimulated to produce light. Used in a variety of cutting purposes and in reading
contents of an optical disk
- Light
- Amplification by
- Stimulated
- Emission
- Radiation
6. UV Radiation: can make some difficult-to-see substances more visible through
fluorescence (substances absorb UV radiation and emit visible light). can be used to
detect counterfeit money. used to purify the air by destroying the DNA of airborne
microorganisms. useful in dealing with pollutants

Uses in Sanitation and Health

1. Thermogram: shows infrared radiation emitted by tumors since they have higher cellular
activity
2. Laser Surgery: Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser can be used for the treatment of tumors.
Argon lasers can be used for the repair of peripheral nerves. In cosmetic surgeries,
argon lasers can be used for the removal of birthmarks.
○ LASIK or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis surgery
i. A special laser is used to reshape the eye’s cornea for correcting the
primary types of eye refractive error.
3. X-Rays: commonly used for medical imaging. can be used to take an image of the bones
because the calcium in the bones tends to absorb X-rays while several other tissues,
such as those of skin, muscles, and digestive tract are transparent to them
4. UV Radiation: used in sterilization of food and equipment. Ultraviolet lamp used in
sterilizing work surfaces, such as those in laboratories and hospitals used as
pasteurization agent to treat fruit juices and other food products
5. Gamma Ray: used in a new form of medical procedure called gamma-knife surgery.
multiple beams of gamma rays are focused on a tumor to kill the cancerous cells

Hazards of Electromagnetic Waves

- Non-Ionizing Radiation: radio wave, microwave, IR, visible light. EM waves with relatively
low radiation levels. Increase in temperature
- Ionizing Radiation: UV, X-ray, gamma ray. EM waves with sufficiently high energy.
Cellular and DNA damage
- Ultraviolet Radiation
- UVA
- lowest frequency
 - UVB
- severe sunburn and cellular damage
- overexposure impairs photosynthesis
- UVC
- highest frequency
- severe cell damage
- overexposure affects flowering times of plants
- ability to reconfigure compounds with double bonds (DNA)

Effects of EM Waves on the Environment

- Photosynthesis: use energy from sunlight to produce glucose and oxygen gas as
by-products. plants use sunlight as a source of energy for photosynthesis. Energy from
light is collected by light- absorbing molecules in the leaves of the plants called
pigments. happens in a phase called the light- dependent reaction. when chlorophyll A
absorbs light, electrons gain energy and become “excited” which results in the splitting of
water molecules
- Visible Light Spectrum: can be further divided into different subsections, each
representative of a particular color, commonly known as the colors of a rainbow,
ROYGBV
- Light and Color in the Human Eye: an object’s color is the wavelength of light which it
reflects. The reflected wavelengths are received by the retina, and the cones in the eye
interpret these wavelengths as colors and send signals to our brains. The retina contains
special cells called cones and rods. Cones are responsible for perceiving colors, while
rods allow people to see in poor lighting conditions.
- Greenhouse Effect: phenomenon where in short wavelengths of radiation from the sun
are absorbed when they pass through a transparent medium while longer wavelengths
of radiation are trapped inside that medium
- Acquired Mutation: permanent alteration in the genetic sequence caused by factors such
as radiation. exposure to specific chemicals or radiation can cause the DNA to break
down. leads to mutations where cells appear to have a slightly different DNA compared
to the original