ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE

- Electromagnetic wave (EM wave) or electromagnetic radiation is a wave

that is created as a result of vibrations between an electric field and
magnetic field, hence known as ‘electromagnetic wave’.
- Recall Oersted’s discovery: “A changing electric field produces magnetic
field.” A changing magnetic field is therefore produced around a vibrating
charge. And according to Michael Faraday, “the changing magnetic field
will produce electric field.”
- EM waves carry energy as it propagates. It can travel through anything even
on vacuum, meaning they do not need any medium to travel. They travel in
a vacuum at a speed of 3x10⁸ m/s.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

- There are seven different types of EM waves. They are arranged in a

gradual progression from the waves of lowest frequency, to highest
frequency. This arrangement of EM waves is called electromagnetic
spectrum.
- In order of increasing frequency, the EM spectrum includes radio waves,
microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma ray.
-
RADIO WAVES

- longest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum.

- With elongated wavelengths varying from hundreds of meters to fractions
of a millimeter, they can traverse long distances by bending around
obstacles and reflecting off the ionosphere.
- Traveling at the speed of light in a vacuum, approximately 299,792,458
meters per second, they offer efficient communication.
- Information is embedded into these waves through modulation techniques
like amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM), enabling
the transmission of diverse data types.
- have a frequency from high 300 GHz to as low as 3 kHz, though
somewhere it is defined as above 3 GHz as microwaves.
- At 300 GHz, the wavelength is 1 mm, and at 3 kHz is 100 km. They travel
at the speed of light just like all other electromagnetic waves do.
- Lightning or astronomical objects make all the waves that have naturally
occurred.
- As radio waves travel at a speed similar to that of light and are slowed
down based on that object’s permittivity and permeability while passing
through an object. Wavelength is used to define the distance between one
peak of the wave’s electric field to the other, being inversely proportional to
the wave’s frequency.
 - non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation is not strong enough to
break chemical bonds or strip electrons from atoms but it causes the atoms
to vibrate which can cause them to heat up

Applications:
Television, FM, and AM radio broadcasts, military communications, mobile
phones, ham radio, wireless computer networks, and many other communications
applications employ different frequencies of radio waves. Most radio waves are
easily absorbed by the atmosphere of Earth.

Radio towers/ Ham radio

FM and AM radio broadcasts:
Tuning a radio to a specific wavelength, it receives and transforms the waves into
mechanical energy that we are able to hear(basta vibrations)
Mobile phones:
Phones transmit radio waves that are received and turned into the information.
Military communications :
Military radios are used for a variety of purposes, such as drone and aircraft
communication and unit coordination. Radio waves are vital for combat strategy
because they may identify the presence of enemy forces.
Wireless computer networks :
Wi-Fi uses radio waves to transmit information between your device and a router
via frequencies
Television broadcasting:
Television stations use radio waves to broadcast their signals through the air, just as
broadcast radio stations do.

Harmful effects:
Exposure to very high radio frequency or radio waves can result in heating of body
tissue and an increase in body temperature. Tissue damage occurs when the body is
unable to cope or dissipate the excessive heat that may be generated.
MICROWAVES

- MICROWAVES ARE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATIONS, ALSO

KNOWN AS MICROWAVE RADIATION.
- LIE IN BETWEEN THE RADIO WAVES AND INFRARED
RADIATIONS
- PRODUCED BY DEDICATED VACUUM TUBES, KNOWN AS
KLYSTRONS, MAGNETRONS, AND GUNN DIODES.
- THE TRANSMISSION OF MICROWAVES IS AFFECTED BY
PHENOMENA LIKE REFRACTION, DIFFRACTION, REFLECTION,
AND INTERFERENCE.
- THEY ARE REFLECTED BY METAL; THEY PASS THROUGH GLASS,
PAPER, PLASTIC, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS; AND THEY ARE
ABSORBED BY FOODS.

FREQUENCY

- ITS FREQUENCY RANGES BETWEEN 300 MHZ AND 300 GHZ.

- 3 X 109 – 3 X 1011Hz

WAVELENGTH

- ITS WAVELENGTH RANGES FROM 1MM TO AROUND 30CM.

- 1 X 103-1 X 10-1meters
ENERGY

- 2 X 10-24 – 2 X 10-22 Joules

- MICROWAVES HAVE A NON-IONIZING ENERGY, WHICH MEANS

IT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY TO KNOCK ELECTRONS
OUT OF ATOMS. THIS TYPE OF ENERGY IS SAFE, AND IS IN THE
LOWER-ENERGY RANGE OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC
SPECTRUM.

APPLICATIONS

- COOKING: THE MICROWAVES FOUND WITHIN A MICROWAVE

OVEN PENETRATE AND AGITATE THE WATER MOLECULES OF
THE FOOD. THUS CREATING MOLECULAR FRICTION WHICH
PROVIDES HEAT THAT COOKS THE FOOD.
- TERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATION: A CELL PHONE IS A RADIO
TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER, THEY DEPEND ON
OVERLAPPING NETWORK OF CELLS. EACH CELL HAS ITS
TOWER THAT RECEIVES AND SENDS MICROWAVE SIGNALS.
- RADAR: IT IS A DETECTION SYSTEM USED TO DETERMINE THE
RANGE, ANGLE OR VELOCITY OF OBJECTS. IT IS USED FOR
AIRCRAFTS, SHIPS, ETC.
- REMOTE SENSING: THE SENSOR TRANSMITS A MICROWAVE
(RADIO) SIGNAL TOWARDS THE TARGET AND DETECTS THE
BACKSCATTERED PORTION OF THE SIGNAL.
- SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS: MICROWAVES CAN PENETRATE
THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, THE SIGNALS ARE TRANSMITTED
BY AN ANTENNA TO A SATELLITE WHICH AMPLIFIES AND
RETRANSMITS THE SIGNAL TO AN ANTENNA IN OTHER PARTS
OF THE WORLD.

HARMFUL EFFECTS

- DESPITE HAVING A NON-IONIZING RADIATION, HAVING TOO

MUCH DIRECT EXPOSURE TO HIGH LEVEL OF MICROWAVES
MAY CAUSE HEALTH COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS: SKIN BURNS
OR CATARACTS.
INFRARED WAVES

Characteristics
Infrared waves are situated outside the visible spectrum at its red end.
Although, our eyes couldn’t see it, we could feel it as heat.
Frequency
Infrared’s frequency has a range of 300 gigahertz [(3 x 1011) Hz] up to 400
terahertz [(4 x 1014)Hz]
Wavelength
Infrared’s wavelength ranges from 700 nanometers [(7 x 10 -7 ) m] up to 1
millimeter [(1 x 10 -3 ) m]
Energy
Infrared’s energy could range from (2 x 10 -22 ) J to (3 x 10 -19 ) J

- Extreme and direct amounts of non-ionizing radiation exposure may cause

tissue damage because of the heat, but this is uncommon and is mainly a
concern for workers that deal with huge sources of non-ionizing radiation
devices and instruments.

Applications

1. Remote controls - It is used to change channels on the television.

2. Household appliances - Heat lamps and toasters utilize IR radiation to transfer

heat.

3. Studying space/Detecting objects in space - Infrared energy can discover objects

in the universe which can’t be viewed with visible light. The James Webb Space
Telescope (JWST) possesses 3 infrared instruments to study about the universe and
the creation of galaxies, stars, and planets.

4. Therapy - Infrared therapy is a light-based method to treat pain and inflammation

in various parts of the body delivered to the site of injury or inflammation at certain
wavelengths, promoting cell repair

5. Cooking - An Infrared oven saves time and requires little effort to bake or cook a
dish, high energy waves may cook food in just a matter of time
VISIBLE LIGHT

- Form of EM (electromagnetic) radiation

- Has 7 color spectrum
- Travels at a speed of 299,792,458 m/s (3x108 m/s )
- Interacts with matter in several ways (absorption, reflection, transmission,
scattering, and emission)
- Exhibits wave-like and particle-like properties

Frequency

400 terahertz to 790 terahertz

Wavelength

380 nanometers to 750 nanometers

Violet

- shortest wavelength
- Highestfrequency
- highest energy
- 380 nm to 450 nm
- 670 THz to 790 THz
- 2.75 electron volts to 3.26 electron volts

Blue

- 450 nm to 485 nm
- 620 THz to 670 THz
- 2.56 electron volts to 2.75 electron volts

Cyan

- 485 nm to 500 nm
- 600 THz to 620 THz
- 2.48 electron volts to 2.56 electron volts
Green

- 500 nm to 565 nm
- 530 THz to 600 THz
- 2.19 electron volts to 2.48 electron volts

Yellow

- 565 nm to 590 nm
- 510 THz to 530 THz
- 2.10 electron volts to 2.19 electron volts

Orange

- 590 nm to 625 nm
- 480 THz to 510 THz
- 1.98 electron volts to 2.10 electron volts

Red

- longest wavelength
- lowest frequency
- lowest energy
- 625 nm to 750 nm
- 400 THz to 480 THz
- 1.65 electron volts to 1.98 electron volts

- Non-ionizing radiation

 Present in various workplaces

 Can be a health concern if not managed correctly
 Has lower energy compared to ionizing radiation
 Doesn’t strip electrons from atoms or molecules in substances
Applications in real life

- Lighting purposes-Illuminating areas like homes offices, streets and etc.

- Photography -Capturing images , Exposing films or sensors to lights
- Art and Design - Colors Shadows Reflection
- Entertainment - Movies TV shows Gaming Visual effects
- Health-Phototherapy Light therapy

HARMFUL EFFECTS

- Flash and explosion

ULTRAVIOLETS

Ultraviolet or UV radiation is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in

between the violet visual light and X-rays. It is not visible to the naked human eye
because its wavelength is too short. UV radiation is typically produced by surfaces
with high temperatures. However, it could be artificially made by passing an electric
current through a gas like vaporized mercury.
Since the dividing line between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation occurs in the
ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum, Ultraviolet Rays can be
categorized as both ionizing and non- ionizing depending on their energy levels.

At lower energy levels, UV rays are considered non-ionizing. At this level, they do
not contain enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules, or in simpler terms,
remove electrons. However, at higher energy levels, UV rays possess enough energy
to ultimately lead to the ionization process.

HARMFUL EFFECTS

- Although UV radiation helps humans, it is still considered harmful,

especially if exposed to it frequently. Exposure to UV light can lead to
various types of skin problems.
- Minor effects include skin rashes and sunburn. Serious effects include
aging, skin diseases, cancer (melanoma), blindness, cataracts, and even
death.

APPLICATIONS:

- UV lamps provide many medical benefits for a host of conditions

- UV germicidal lamps offer numerous benefits to food and restaurant
industries
- UV astronomers detect and study UV light emitted by celestial objects and
bodies in order to study the universe.

X-Ray

X-rays, discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895, are a form of high-

energy electromagnetic radiation with shorter wavelengths than both visible and
ultraviolet light. Their ability to penetrate matter is harnessed across various fields.
When X-rays interact with a material, some are absorbed, while others pass
through. The highly energetic X-ray photons can break up molecules. Scientists
typically describe X-rays in terms of their energy rather than their wavelength.

Ionizing or Not?

X-rays, capable of penetrating our bodies to capture images of bones, are

"ionizing." This term signifies their distinctive ability to remove electrons from
atoms and molecules in the matter they traverse.

Five Real-Life Applications of X-Rays

X-Rays are incredibly versatile, offering a myriad of uses and benefits across
various fields.

● Diagnosing Bone Fractures - X-rays are crucial in modern healthcare, commonly

used in hospitals for imaging patients. Doctors use x-ray machines to capture
images of the body, with photographic film behind the patient. X-rays easily
penetrate skin but take longer to pass through bones, resulting in lighter-colored
bone images. These images guide doctors in developing effective treatment
plans.

● Radiation therapy - X-rays are crucial in cancer treatment, utilizing high-energy

radiation to eliminate cancer cells and reduce tumor size. Treatment occurs
externally (external-beam radiation therapy) or internally with radioactive
material placed near cancer cells (brachytherapy). While radiation therapy
carries risks, approximately 50% of cancer patients undergo this treatment
during their course of care.

● Airport security - Nearly every airport worldwide is equipped with x-ray security
systems to scan baggage for potential threats, and in recent years, full-body x-
ray scans have been introduced as an additional security measure.

● Revealing counterfeit art - Perhaps one of the lesser known uses, x-rays are also
used by art historians to detect whether or not a picture has been painted over
an existing piece.
● Industrial Testing - X-rays are utilized in industrial settings for non-destructive
testing of materials, ensuring the quality and integrity of structures, welds, and
manufactured components.
Harmful Effects of X-Rays

Despite their invaluable contributions, they can have harmful effects,

particularly with prolonged or excessive exposure. Some potential harmful effects
of X-ray radiation include:

● Ionization of Atoms - X-rays have enough energy to ionize atoms and molecules,
leading to the formation of charged particles. This ionization can potentially
damage living tissues at the cellular level.

● Genetic Effects - Exposure to X-rays, especially in reproductive organs, can

increase the risk of genetic mutations in germ cells, which may be passed onto
future generations.

● Tissue Burns - High doses of X-rays can cause tissue burns, similar to sunburn.
This is particularly a concern during certain medical procedures where higher
radiation doses are used.

● Radiation Sickness - Acute exposure to high doses of X-rays can lead to

radiation sickness, characterized by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting,
weakness, and, in severe cases, organ failure.

● Increased Cancer Risk - Prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation, including

X-rays, is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. This risk
is cumulative over a person's lifetime.

GAMMA RAY

- electromagnetic radiation
- shortest wavelength and highest energy. Its wavelength is generally smaller
than 10⁻¹⁰ meters, while its frequency is around 30 × 10¹⁸ hertz.
 - Gamma-ray photons have energies greater than 100,000 electron volts (eV).
- They are produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the universe,
such as neutron stars and pulsars, supernova explosions, and regions around
black holes.

APPLICATIONS:

Gamma rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation with unique properties that
have enabled them to be utilized in numerous areas of modern society. In the field
of medicine, gamma rays are used in radiotherapy, which is used to treat cancer
by destroying cancer cells with high precision. They are also used to sterilize
medical equipment and supplies, as well as to image internal organs. In the
industrial sector, gamma rays are used for inspecting pipelines and welds, as well
as for preserving food by killing bacteria and other microorganisms. In research,
gamma rays are used for imaging and analyzing materials, and in the study of
nuclear physics. The diverse applications of gamma rays highlight their
importance in shaping the modern world.

IONIZING:

Gamma radiation possesses unparalleled penetrating capability among ionizing

radiations, attributed to its remarkably short wavelengths and its nature as high
energy photons, in contrast to alpha and beta particles. Various ionization
mechanisms, including the photoelectric effect, can occur. Overall, the
exceptionally high energy levels of gamma radiation facilitate electron stripping
upon absorption and energy transfer from photons. This is not possible for
radiation at lower energy levels.

HARMFUL EFFECTS:

The extremely high energy of gamma rays allows them to penetrate just about
anything. They can even pass through bones and teeth. This makes gamma rays
very dangerous. They can destroy living cells, produce gene mutations, and
cause cancer.
Destroy Living Cells - Gamma rays have so much penetrating power that several
inches of a dense material like lead, or even a few feet of concrete may be
required to stop them. Gamma rays can pass completely through the human body;
as they pass through, they can cause ionizations that damage tissue and DNA.
Same goes with cancer-ionizing radiation can cause cancer by damaging DNA.
However, how this happens, or how many tumours are caused by radiation
damage has not been known

Produce Gene Mutations - Gamma rays lead to a distinct genome mutation profile
in higher plants when compared to EMS, which mainly causes nucleotide
modifications that induce C to T mispairing, resulting in the transition of C/G to
T/A [10,11]. This difference is a consequence of repairing ionizing-induced DNA
damage, especially the DSBs

DSB - Double-Strand Breaks