Electromagnetic Spectrum

The Electromagnetic Spectrum consists of different types of electromagnetic waves, arranged

in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength. These waves are all
transverse waves and travel at the speed of light (3 × 10⁸ m/s) in a vacuum.
Mnemonic: "Rugby Match Is Very Unlike Xylophone Game"
“Giant Xylophones Usually Live In Music Rooms”
• Radio waves
• Microwaves
• Infrared radiation
• Visible light
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• X-rays
• Gamma rays
Important Trends in the Electromagnetic Spectrum
1. Frequency Increases from Radio waves → Gamma rays
o Radio waves have the lowest frequency, and gamma rays have the highest.
2. Wavelength Decreases from Radio waves → Gamma rays
o Radio waves have the longest wavelength, and gamma rays have the
shortest.

Basics of Electromagnetic Waves

1. Can travel through a vacuum
o Unlike sound waves, which need a medium (air, water, etc.), electromagnetic
waves do not need a medium to propagate. They can travel through space.
2. Speed in vacuum & air = 3 × 10⁸ m/s
o All electromagnetic waves travel at this speed in a vacuum and air.
3. Transverse waves
o Electromagnetic waves oscillate perpendicular to the direction of wave
travel.
4. Can reflect, refract, and diffract
o Reflection: Bouncing off surfaces (e.g., mirrors reflect light).
o Refraction: Bending of waves when moving from one medium to another
(e.g., light bending in water).
o Diffraction: Spreading out of waves when passing through small gaps or
around obstacles.
5. Obey the wave equation
o The wave equation: v = fλ
6. Carry energy and can be absorbed by matter
o Electromagnetic waves transfer energy and can cause heating or other
effects when absorbed.
7. They travel in a straight line
Types of Electromagnetic Waves & Their Uses
1. Radio Waves
• Use in Communication:
o Used in radio and TV to transmit information over long distances.
• Use in Astronomy:
o Radio telescopes receive radio signals from space to study celestial bodies.
2. Microwaves
• International communication
o Used for long-distance wireless communication.
• Satellite television
o Satellites receive and send signals via microwaves.
• Mobile phone networks
o Mobile networks use microwaves to transmit signals.
• Dish aerial transmission
o Microwaves are sent from dish antennas, received by satellites, amplified,
and then transmitted to other locations.
• Bluetooth
o Uses low-power microwaves to connect devices wirelessly.
• Cooking in microwave ovens
o Microwaves cause water molecules to vibrate, generating heat that cooks
food.
3. Infrared Radiation
• Thermal imaging cameras
o Used by the military and firefighters to detect heat from objects.
• Infrared sensors
o Used in motion detectors and temperature sensors.
• Intruder alarms
o Detects heat emitted by humans or any moving body. If someone blocks the
sensor's path, the alarm is triggered.
• Remote controllers
o Emit infrared signals to communicate with TVs and other appliances.
• Optical fibres
o Infrared light is used in optical fibres for high-speed internet and
communication.
4. Light Waves
• Vision
o Light waves allow us to see objects & Communication in optical fibres.
• Photography
o Cameras capture images using visible light.
• Lighting
o Used in lamps, LED bulbs, and other artificial light sources.
5. Ultraviolet (UV) Waves
• Sun tanning
o Sunlight contains UV radiation, which causes skin to darken.
• Production of Vitamin D
o UV light helps the human body produce Vitamin D, essential for bone health.
• Fluorescence
o UV light makes some materials glow (e.g., UV ink in currency notes for
security features).
• Water treatment
o UV light kills bacteria and viruses in water purification plants.
6. X-Rays
• Medical Imaging (X-ray scans)
o Used to detect broken bones, as bones absorb X-rays, creating an image by
not making the photographic film black where bones are present.
• Cancer treatment (Radiotherapy)
o X-rays kill cancer cells.
• Security Scanning
o X-ray machines scan luggage at airports & detect explosives.
• Detect cracks in metals
o X-ray imaging helps find structural defects in buildings and machinery.
7. Gamma Rays
• Cancer treatment
o High-energy gamma rays kill cancer cells.
• Sterilization
o Used to kill bacteria in food and surgical instruments.
• Detect cracks in metals
o Used in industrial quality control.

Dangers of Electromagnetic Waves

1. Microwaves
o Absorbed by water in body cells, causing heating and cell damage.
2. Infrared Radiation
o Can cause burns as it transfers heat.
3. Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
o Causes ionization, leading to skin cancer and eye cataracts.
4. X-Rays & Gamma Rays
o Highly ionizing → Can damage DNA, leading to cancer.

Order of Visible Light Colors

• Red → Orange→ Yellow→ Green→ Blue→ Indigo→ Violet