Jos Antonio Duran- Year 10

The Electromagnetic Spectrum The electromagnetic spectrum is the variety of all types of electromagnetic radiation. The types of electromagnetic radiation are Microwaves, Radio waves, Infrared rays, Ultraviolet rays, X-Rays and gamma rays. Microwaves: Microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation. Microwave wavelength range from1 meter to one millimeter. A physicist named James Clerk Maxwell discovered microwaves in 1864. Microwaves were used in radars during WWII. Percy Spencer later on discovered that microwaves could be used for heating food and invented the microwave oven. Radio Waves: Heinrich Hertz discovered radio waves in 1864. Radio wave wavelength range from one millimeter to one hundred kilometers they travel at the speed of light, like all the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio waves are used in radio communication, broadcasting, radar and other navigation systems. Different frequencies of radio waves experience different combinations of reflection, refraction and diffraction in the earths atmosphere.

Jos Antonio Duran- Year 10

Infrared Rays: Astronomer William Herschel discovered infrared radiation in 1800. He discovered a type of invisible radiation in the light spectrum beyond red light by means of its effect on a thermometer. Infrared rays are used in night vision devices, which allow the observer not to be detected. Infrared rays can also be used in infrared astronomy and infrared thermal imaging cameras used to detect heat loss in the body, the changing blood flow in the body and to detect overheating in electrical apparatus.

Ultraviolet Rays: Ultraviolet waves are invisible to the human eye and have a shorter wavelength than visible light. Many insects can actually see ultraviolet waves; an example of an insect would be a bee. German physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter discovered ultraviolet waves in 1801. Ultraviolet waves can be found in mercury lamps or in black lights. The biggest source of ultraviolet light comes directly from the sun, but there are other sources of artificial ultraviolet waves that can be found in tanning beds. There are three types of Ultraviolet rays coming from the sun; UVAs are the most common and cause skin aging and wrinkling, UVBs cause skin burn, cataracts and immune system damage and UVCs are the most dangerous waves but they are absorbed by the earths ozone layer.

Jos Antonio Duran- Year 10

X-rays: X rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that was discovered by the German physicist Wilhelm Rntgen in 1895. He was the first to study them but not their effects. He was also the one to put the name X-rays on them. X rays are used for radiographs, computed tomography, fluoroscopy and Radiotherapy. Gamma Rays: Gamma rays have the smallest wavelength of any of the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. Radioactive atoms create gamma waves after nuclear explosions. A French physicist named Paul Villard discovered gamma rays in 1900. Gamma rays kill living cell, but medics use this to their advantage and use gamma rays to treat cancer.