THE ELECTROMAGNETIC

SPECTRUM
This image indicates the different parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum. These are transverse waves.
EM spectrum video
1
The spectrum of electromagnetic waves ranges
from very low frequency radio waves to
extremely high frequency gamma rays.



Low frequency (long wavelength) radio waves
have low energy and are not harmful to humans.

High frequency (short wavelength) gamma rays
have very high energy and are extremely harmful
to humans
Electromagnetic waves have an electric & a magnetic
component operating at right angles to one another.
Electromagnetic spectrum
2
The waves of all parts of the electromagnetic
spectrum:

are caused by the acceleration of charged
particles.

are transverse electromagnetic waves
made up of magnetic and electric fields
vibrating at right angles to each other.
also have particle characteristics, besides the
predominant wave characteristics

travel in a vacuum (or in a gas) at 3 X 10
8
m.s
-1

they all obey the wave equation: v or c = f.
3
Behaviour of EM waves
All EM waves can all be: reflected, refracted,
diffracted, polarised & can undergo constructive
& destructive interference.

All of these phenomena provide evidence of the
predominant wave nature of the EM waves.

All travel at the speed of light & all travel
through a vacuum unlike sound which
requires a material medium in order to be
transmitted.
Uses of EM waves
4

RADIO WAVES

Radio waves are produced by oscillating
(vibrating) electric currents in a transmitting
aerial.

Radio waves are easily diffracted (bent)
because they have long wavelengths.

Medium wave radio is easily transmitted. Radio
702 transmits on a frequency of 702kHz ( =
427m).
Radio waves
5
Short wave radio waves are reflected by the
ionosphere resulting in erratic reception of
short wave radio.
Very high frequency radio waves are used
for FM (frequency modulated) radio
transmission.
RADIO WAVES

Dont use a cell phone too much you could
be affected by radiofrequencies that can
increase the risk of cancer.
6
RADIO WAVES

VHF (very high frequency) and UHF (ultra
high frequency) waves are used for
television.

VHF and UHF waves are not easily
diffracted and so cast shadows behind
buildings. This is why so many transmitting
aerials are needed for TV transmission.
How a radio works
7
MICROWAVES

The wavelength of these waves is a few
centimeters.

Microwaves are used for satellite
communication, for telephone and
television. The microwaves travel in
straight lines over long distances from the
satellite to the receiver. Receivers are in
the form of a parabolic dish which focuses
the radiation onto a detector.
Microwave tower
How a microwave oven works
8
Microwaves are used to cook food in
microwave ovens. Water molecules absorb
the energy from these wavelengths. This
causes the water molecules to vibrate,
thereby heating the water and cooking the
food.

Most food contains a great deal of water
which causes the food to cook very quickly.
In addition, the food cooks throughout its
volume and not just from the outside, as in
conventional cooking.
Operation of a microwave oven
9
INFRARED RADIATION
The particles of all objects vibrate and as a
result emit radiation in the infrared region
of the spectrum.
Infrared radiation affects some
photographic film. We can take infrared
photographs of objects in the absence of
light.
Infrared binoculars allow us to view
objects, like animals, at night.

Infra red radiation
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VISIBLE LIGHT
When objects are heated they first glow
red (emit light of low frequency) but as
they become hot they begin to emit higher
frequencies, until they are white hot and
emit all the frequencies that make up the
visible spectrum.

Spectrum
11
Objects emit white light when the
temperature reaches 2000
o
C . This is also
the temperature of the sun.

Visible light is referred to as white light.
White light is made up of the seven colours
of the spectrum. The human eye is unable
to distinguish between the colours under
normal conditions.
Producing a spectrum
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ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
These rays are emitted by very hot
objects, like the sun and electric arc
welders.


Ultraviolet light causes some chemicals to
glow or fluoresce. These chemicals are
added to washing powders where they
absorb ultraviolet rays and release them as
visible light. Washing then appears to be
whiter than white.
UV rays
13
The ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause
skin cancer. The ozone layer of our
atmosphere protects us from these rays by
absorbing them before they reach us.
Ultraviolet rays can kill harmful bacteria
and are used for this purpose in some air-
conditioning units.
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X RAYS
These rays are emitted when high-speed
electrons bombard a metal plate. The
electrons slow down and their energy is
transferred as high energy
electromagnetic radiation.


X rays were discovered by Wilhelm
Rntgen in 1895.
Production of x-rays
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These rays pass through soft tissue but
not bones and so are used to photograph
bones.

These rays are dangerous and have
high penetrating ability because of their
high energy.
X rays do not penetrate lead so
radiographers wear thin lead aprons to
protect themselves from the radiation.
Using x-rays
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GAMMA RAYS
These rays are emitted by naturally
occurring radioactive materials and are a
by-product of nuclear reactions.

Gamma rays have the greatest
penetrating ability of all electromagnetic
radiation, have the greatest energy and
are the most dangerous to man.
Gamma rays
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Visible spectrum part of EM spectrum
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Dual (particle/wave) nature of EM
Besides all EM components having a wave
nature, there is also evidence to indicate a
particle nature.

The photoelectric effect occurs when light of
a specific frequency is able to eject electrons
from a metal when falling upon the metal.

This is because of the fact that EM have a
particle nature and we call these particles
photons.
A photon of light
Photons
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Photons ejecting from a K plate the
photons must have the correct f & thus E in
order to do this.
Photoelectric effect
20
Particle nature of EM
Photons have a specific frequency and
energy. The threshold frequency is the
minimum energy required to eject an from a
metal by a photon.

E = hf where:
E = energy of photon,
h = Plancks constant (6.63 x 10
-34
J.s) &
f = frequency of the photon.

And E = hf = hc/
Now try some calculations on this section.
Photoelectric effect
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