ELECTROMAGNETICS

Electromagnetic spectrum
Introduction
Electromagnetic field is a physical field produced by electric field. It affects the behavior of charged
objects in the vicinity of the field. The e.m.f extends indefinitely throughout the space and describes the
electron magnetic interruption. The field can be viewed as a combination of Electric field and Magnetic
field.
The electric field is produced by static charges where else magnetic field is produced by moving charges

Electric field

Direction of motion

Magnetic field

The movement of the field can be represented as shown in the figure below:
Charged particles in the atmosphere emit or absorb energy in a wavelike form known as electromagnetic
radiation. The two components i.e. Electric and Magnetic fields oscillate at right angles to each other and
to the direction at which the wave is propagating
Spectrum
This is a map of all types of lights that can be viewed. It separates all types of lights by the wavelengths.
The nature of the wavelength relates to how energetic the wave is. More energetic waves have shorter
wavelength while less energetic waves have longer wave lengths
N/B
Note that all light that is in the visible spectrum is the light that we can see

Types of waves Application

Radio Used in radio air craft navigation
Communication
Radio broadcasting
security
Micro-Wave Micro – wave heating (Oven)
Micro- Wave communication
Infra- red Tv remote controls
Security, counters, and sensory
systems
Visible - Light Normal light of the day
Ultra - Violet For the synthesis of Vitamin D
Food preservation
sterilization
X- ray Photographic plate in hospitals
Security
Welding
Gamma rays Treatment of cancer
Security
The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into three parts
Longer wavelengths
Are waves that have longer wavelengths and less energy. They include:-
i) Radio waves
ii) Microwave
iii) Infra-red
Visible light
They are in the middle of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can detect between 400 -900
μm that is why we call this part of the spectrum the visible light.
Shorter wavelength
These waves have shorter wavelengths with high frequencies and high energy. They include: -
i) Gamma rays
 ii) X- rays
iii) Ultra violet
Wavelength, frequency and speed of light
If you draw a beam of light i.e. inform of a wave, the distance between crests is known as the wavelength
of light.

The electromagnetic waves move at the same speed as the speed of light which is approximately

3 ×10 8m. the number of cycles passing a certain point per second gives the frequency of the wave.

C = λf

Where
C = velocity of light
F = frequency
Λ = wavelength
Frequency of light
Each particular frequency of light has a particular energy associated with it and is given by planks
equation
hc
E=
λ
Where
E = energy
H = planks constant
C = velocity of light
λ = wavelength
SOURCE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
Electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed as light. It draws energy from the surroundings. The basic
unit of electromagnetic radiations is called a photon which is describe as a packet of light. The
electromagnetic spectrum can be described as: -
Radio waves
Of all the types of electromagnetic waves, radio wave has the lowest frequency and the longest
wavelengths. They have a frequency range of 300GHz to as low as 3Hz with a corresponding wavelength
of 1mm to 100km
Naturally occurring radio waves, emanates from the star, gases in space or astronomical objects where as
artificial generated radio waves are used for fixed radio communication broadcasting and other navigation
systems
Micro waves

This has a longer wavelength through not as long as radio waves. The frequency is 3 ×10 8Hz and the
wavelength range is 1mm to 25mm. These waves are artificially generated as in microwave devices
where they are used to heat food. There are those which occur naturally in the atmosphere.
Infra-red waves

Their frequency ranges from 1102 ¿ 1× 104 Hz with a wavelength of 25nm to 750nm. Night vision
googles can be used to see infra red light emitted by objects such as planets and stars. These waves do not
penetrate as far as into the atmosphere, water vapour and carbon dioxide prevents the waves from
reaching the earth surface.
Visible light spectrum

This makes only a tiny part of the spectrum with a frequency of 4 10−4 t 0 7.5 ×104 Hz and the
wavelength ranges from 750nm to 400nm. The visible light can not be blocked by the earth atmosphere
although clouds can scatter some of the light. The visible part of the spectrum may further be subdivided
according to colours with red at the long wavelength and violet at the short wavelength ROYGBIV.
Ultra violet
It is emitted by the sun and its destructive to human skin. Hot objects in space emits ultra violet radiations
as well as the frequency ranges from 1015 ¿10 17Hz with a wave length range of 400nm to 1nm. This
radiation is absorbed by ozone layer at an attitude of 20 to 40km.
x-ray

the frequency range is from 1017 ¿ 1020 Hz, the wavelength is less than −12 meters. this is absorbed by
the ozone layer at the upper atmosphere. X-rays are classified as hard (short wavelength). Artificially
generated x-rays are used in medical services as well as security services.
Gamma rays
They have the shortest wavelength and the highest frequency of the electromagnetic spectrum. Frequency
ranges from 1020 ¿ 1024Hz with a wavelength not more than 10 μm. Only the very highest energy in this
wavelength can reach the surface of the earth but the rest are absorbed by the ozone layer in the upper
atmosphere.
These rays are produced in the area of extremely high temperature density and medium frequencies. They
find their use in medical services i.e. body imaging. Its said that the biggest gamma ray source is the
universe.

No Radiation type Frequency range Wavelength

 .
1 Gamma rays 20 24 −12
10 ¿ 10 ¿ 10 m
2 x-rays 17 20 1nm to 1pm
10 ¿ 10
3 Ultra violet rays 15 17 400nm to 1nm
10 ¿10
4 Visible light 4 to 7.5 × 1014 750nm to 400nm
5 Near infra-red rays 14
1 ×10 ¿ 4 × 10
14
2.5 μm to 750nm
6 Infra-red 13
10 ¿10
14
25 μm t0 2.5 μm
7 Micro wave 3×1011 ¿ 1013 Imm to 25 μm
8 Radio waves ¿ 3 ×10
11
¿ 1 mm

Radiation detectors
There are several types of radiation detectors these include: -
Geiger Muller
The Geiger Muller counter uses a gas filled devices. A Geiger Muller tube will detect radiations when
high voltage is applied to the device
Micro – R- meter
Uses sodium iodide solid crystal and photo multiplier tube. When radiations interact with sodium iodide a
pulse of light is created, then the photomultiplier tube converts the pulse of light into an electrical signal
so it can be read on an instrument.
A multi-channel analyzer system
This detects radiations using germanium or silicon iodide crystal. This particular system can be used for
gamma counting and alpha radiation. The multi-channel analyzer system is also used for counting solid
and liquid matrix samples as well as detecting internal radioactive material found in organs and tissues
Cloud chambers
The cloud chamber, also known as the Wilson chamber is a particle detector used for detecting ionizing
radiation. It is a sealed environment containing a supper saturated vapour of water or alcohol. When a
charged particle alpha, beta gamma etc. interacts with the mixture the fluid is ionized.
Properties of electromagnetic waves
i) Electromagnetic waves propagates at right angles to both electric and magnetic oscillating
field vectors
ii) The waves posses energy
iii) They travel at the speed of light
iv) They are transverse waves
Sources of electromagnetic interference
i) Ignition systems
ii) Cellular network of mobile phones
iii) Lightning
iv) Solar flares and auroras
v) Marine and air space vehicle
In general, we can say
i) Communication devices such as mobile phones, walkie tackies
ii) Broadcasting stations
iii) Atmospheric discharge such as lightning
iv) Air space and marine devices
v) Ignition systems
vi) Voltage surges etc.