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Week-4-Electromagnetic-Waves-and-EM-Spectrum

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that consist of electric and magnetic fields and do not require a medium to travel, unlike mechanical waves. They are categorized in the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to gamma rays, each with varying wavelengths and frequencies. Key applications include communication, medical imaging, and various technologies, with visible light being the only type detectable by the human eye.

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Janelle Bangkil
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2 views

Week-4-Electromagnetic-Waves-and-EM-Spectrum

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that consist of electric and magnetic fields and do not require a medium to travel, unlike mechanical waves. They are categorized in the electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to gamma rays, each with varying wavelengths and frequencies. Key applications include communication, medical imaging, and various technologies, with visible light being the only type detectable by the human eye.

Uploaded by

Janelle Bangkil
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electromagnetic

Waves
Waves
•Most waves are either
longitudinal or transverse.
•Sound waves are longitudinal.
•But all electromagnetic waves
are transverse.
Longitudinal vs Transverse
Waves
•Transverse waves cause the
medium to move perpendicular
to the direction of the wave.
Longitudinal waves cause the
medium to move parallel to
the direction of the wave.
?

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What are electromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic waves are waves
that have both electric and magnetic
fields.
They do not have to have a medium
to travel through.
How about MECHANICAL WAVES?
Mechanical waves require a
medium to propagate.
A medium may vary from a solid, a
liquid, or a gas.
Electromagnetic waves, on the
other hand, do not require a medium
for them to move.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum

All the different types of


electromagnetic waves put in order
from lowest energy to highest
energy.
All these types of waves travel at
the same speed, but they have
different wavelengths and
frequencies.
• Electromagnetic Spectrum—name for
the range of electromagnetic waves
when placed in order of increasing
frequency
ULTRAVIOLET GAMMA
RADIO INFRARED
RAYS RAYS
WAVES RAYS
MICROWAVES VISIBLE LIGHT X-RAYS
Electromagnetic waves
• Produced by the movement of electrically
charged particles
• Can travel in a “vacuum” (they do NOT
need a medium)
• Travel at the speed of
light c= 3.0 x 108 m/s
• Also known as EM waves
What is the relationship between frequency
and wavelength?
INVERSE
(as one goes up, other goes down)
Radio waves
• Longest wavelength, lowest energy
• Uses:
• TV broadcasting
• AM and FM broadcast radio
• Heart rate monitors
• Cell phone communication
• MRI (MAGNETIC RESONACE IMAGING)
• Uses Short wave radio waves with a magnet to create an image
Microwaves
• Wavelengths from 1 mm- 1 m
• Uses:
• Microwave ovens
• Bluetooth headsets
• Broadband Wireless Internet
• Radar
• GPS
Infrared Radiation
• Wavelengths in between microwaves and visible
light
• Uses:
• Night vision goggles
• Remote controls
• Heat-seeking missiles
• Thermal Scanner
Visible light
Only type of EM wave able to be detected by
the human eye
Violet is the highest frequency and energy
light
Red light is the lowest frequency light and
lowest energy
Ultraviolet
• Shorter wavelengths than visible light
• Uses:
• Black lights
• Stimulates production of Vitamin D
• Security images on money
• Harmful to living things
• Used to sterilize medical equipment
• Too much causes sun burn
• Extremely high exposure can cause skin cancer
X-rays

• Tiny wavelength, high


energy waves
• Uses:
• Medical imaging
• Airport security
• Moderate dose can damaging to cells
Gamma Rays
Smallest wavelengths, highest energy
EM waves
Uses
Sterilizes medical equipment
Cancer treatment to kill cancer cells
Kills nearly all living cells.
Waves or Particles
• Electromagnetic radiation has properties of
waves but also can be thought of as a
stream of particles.
• Example: Light
• Light as a wave: Light behaves as a transverse wave
which we can filter using polarized lenses.
• Light as particles (photons): When directed at a
substance light can knock electrons off of a
substance (Photoelectric effect)

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