What are electromagnetic waves?

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves made up of a vibrating electric field and a
vibrating magnetic. The two fields vibrate at right angles to one another in the direction in
which the wave is traveling.

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

The electromagnetic spectrum is a family of waves consisting of, gamma ray, X-rays, ultraviolet,
visible light, infra-red, microwaves and radio waves.

All the waves that make up the electromagnetic spectrum travel at exactly the same speed
through space (vacuum). This speed is 3 x 10 8 ms1 which is the speed of light.

Although the electromagnetic spectrum is made up of many different waves with different
properties, they are all electromagnetic radiations.

Electromagnetic radiations can be considered as a stream of photons. Photons are particles of

zero mass and charge which travel in a wave like pattern at the speed of light. Each photon
has a certain quantity or pattern of energy.
Thus a beam of electromagnetic radiation delivers energy in photons and the difference
between the various electromagnetic radiations is the amount of energy within the photons
they possess. Electromagnetic radiations with high frequencies such as gamma rays and X-rays
have photons of high energies whereas electromagnetic radiations with low frequencies such as
radio waves have photons of low energies. The energy delivered by each electromagnetic
radiation beam increases with the frequency of the electromagnetic wave.

Intensity of an Electromagnetic Radiation beam

The intensity of a beam of electromagnetic radiation is the energy it delivers per second. The
energy of the beam of electromagnetic radiation is delivered by the photons. Therefore the
intensity depends on two things;

1. The number of photons that are arriving per second

2. The amount of energy carried by each photon

The number of photons arriving per second

The two microwave ovens above have the same type of electromagnetic radiation source in the
form of microwaves. However the one on the left is more powerful and cooks the chicken
quicker. This is because the more powerful microwave oven has more photons arriving per
second on the chicken thereby increasing the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation beam.

The amount of energy carried by each photon

High frequency radiations have high energy photons. Therefore, if a gamma ray source was
emitting the same photons per second as an infrared source the intensity from the gamma rays
would be higher as the photons from this source carry a greater amount of energy than infrared
source. Infrared have a smaller frequency than gamma rays and so the photons have a smaller
amount of energy.
Gamma Rays
Properties Description
Gamma rays have the smallest
wavelength and their photons
have the most energy of all the
waves in the electromagnetic
spectrum. They are generated
by the decay of radioactive
atoms and nuclear explosions.
The high energy of gamma ray
photons means they can pass
Wavelength 1012 meters through most things. Gamma
rays are a form of ionizing
Frequency 1020 Hertz radiation, which means that
when they pass through matter
Energy 107 Electron Volts
they pass on their energy to
electrons in the atoms they hit.
This makes them dangerous as
they can ionize atoms in the
body thereby damaging and
killing cells. If the DNA in a cell
is damaged by gamma
radiation it can mutate and
cause cancer.
X-Rays
Properties Description
X-rays are produced from the
collision of high speed
electrons with metals. With a
high frequency and small
wavelength the high energy
photons associated with X-rays
enables them to penetrate
most materials. X-rays are also
ionizing radiation which makes
Wavelength 1010 meters them dangerous as they can
cause biological changes in
Frequency 1018 Hertz
living cells.
Uses
The ionizing nature of gamma
rays has been used by
medicine to its advantage. By
carefully directing and
controlling a beam of gamma
radiation onto cancer cells they
can be destroyed and their
development controlled.
Gamma rays are used to
sterilize food and hospital
equipment. Gamma rays kill
bacteria and mould in food
prolonging its shelf life.
Uses
X-rays are mainly used in the
field of medicine. They are
used to produce images of
bones and teeth vital for
diagnosis and treatment. By
placing a photographic film
underneath the area of
interest and directing a beam
of x-rays an image is produced
on the film. Parts of the body
where the x-rays pass through
easily are shown up as dark
areas on the film. Where the x-
Energy 105 Electron Volts
Ultraviolet Rays
Properties Description
Ultraviolet radiation is
produced by hot objects such
as the sun or by the high
temperature sparks produced
during electric welding.
Ultraviolet rays have less
energetic photons compared
to gamma rays and x-rays and
a lower penetration power.
Wavelength 108 meters Their effect on humans is
therefore limited to the skin.
Frequency 1016 Hertz Exposure to ultraviolet rays can
cause a suntan (pigmentation
Energy 102 Electron Volts
of the skin) and sunburn. At
high levels of exposure skin
cancer can result and damage
to the retina. This why
sunscreen and glasses with
ultraviolet protection are
important.
Fortunately most of the
ultraviolet radiation in sunlight
is absorbed by the oxygen in
the ozone layer of the Earths
atmosphere.
rays find it difficult to
penetrate such as bones or
teeth shown up as lighter areas
on the film. Like gamma rays
the ionizing potential of x-rays
can also be used in the
treatment of cancer. X-rays are
also used in airports to check
baggage and in industry as a
quality control tool for e.g. to
check packaged food do not
contain metal or stones
Uses
Ultraviolet is used in detecting
forged bank notes forged
notes glow differently in
ultraviolet light. Security pens
for marking goods contain a
special ink which only shows
up under ultraviolet light.
Ultraviolet has positive effects
on the human body as it
stimulates the production of
vitamin D. It is used in the field
of medicine for phototherapy
in the treatment of some skin
disorders.
Ultraviolet radiations kill
microbes and are used in the
sterilization of surgical
equipment.
Fluorescent lamps make use of
ultraviolet radiations. When an
electric current passes through
a mercury vapour ultraviolet
rays are produce. These rays
collide with fluorescent
powder on the inside of the
tube making them fluoresce

Visible Light
Properties Description
This is the small part of the
electromagnetic spectrum
that is detectable by the
human eye. All objects with
enough heat to glow emit
light waves. The sun is the
main source of light. Light
bulbs work on the heating
effect caused by electrical
Wavelength 107 meters resistance in a filament lamp
to cause it to glow and emit
Frequency 7.5 x 1014 Hertz
light.
Energy 101 Electron Volts White light is made up of a
mixture of colours. This
spectrum of colours making
up white light can be viewed
when light is dispersed such
as in a rainbow. The colours,
in order are red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo
and violet.
and converting the energy to
visible light. Fluorescent lamps
are more efficient than
ordinary filament lamps.
Uses
Human sight makes use of the
wavelengths from visible light,
thus we need light in order to
see.
Light plays a critical role in
communication systems.
Lighthouses use light to
communicate the potential
hazards along a stretch of
coastline. Morse code between
ships during radio silence can
be achieved using a flash light.
Transmitting light through air
has setbacks in that the
transmitter and receiver must
be in view of each other. Also
light waves are absorbed by
rain, fog and other bad
weather conditions. These
setbacks were resolved with
the advent of optical fibres.
Optical fibres are made from
very pure glass and allow light
waves carrying information to
travel through them using the
principle of total internal
reflection. The information the
light waves carry is digital and
is in the form of 1s and 0s. As
the light wave carries a digital
signal, it is of high quality and
does not get weaker over long
 distances. Light waves are
therefore used to carry vast
amount of information at high
speeds through optical fibre
systems making the extremely
important in the field of
communications.

Infrared

Properties Description Uses

All objects above the Thermal imaging cameras
temperature of absolute zero make use of infra-red
(-273C) emit infra-red radiations emitted from
radiation. In other words all objects to form an image.
warm objects give off infra- These are used by firemen to
red rays. detect people where visibility is
severely reduced by smoke.
Infra-red radiations cannot be Police also use thermal imaging
seen by the human eye but cameras to track criminal
Wavelength 105 meters their effects can be sense by during the night. Thermal
the skin as warmth. imaging cameras are also used
Frequency 4 x 1014 Hertz to produce thermographs of
objects so the heat loss from
Energy 101 Electron Volts
them can be studied. For
example a thermograph of a
house can give information
about where the main areas of
heat loss are therefore
ensuring the correct areas are
insulated.

Infrared waves are also used as

a source for carrier signals in
fibre optics.

Burglar alarms use sensors

which detect the infra-red rays
given off by intruders.

Microwaves
Properties Description Uses
Microwaves are categorized The property of microwaves to
as radio waves. They have the cause molecules to vibrate is
shortest wavelengths of all put to use to cook food in
the radio waves. microwave ovens. In a
microwave oven the
Microwaves are non ionizing microwaves are produced by a
radiations. Their frequencies device called a Magnetron.
are a lot lower than those of These produce microwaves of
gamma rays and x-rays and a longer wavelength
Wavelength 103 meters the energy of their photons is (approximately 10 to 20 cm).
considerably lesser. They The microwaves are absorbed
Frequency 1010 Hertz therefore do not have the by the water and the fat
damaging properties of molecules in the food heating
Energy 104 Electron Volts ionizing radiations. However, them up from inside thereby
in sufficient intensity they can cooking the food. Microwaves
cause molecules in matter to are not absorbed by dry
vibrate which in turn cause materials such as glass and
friction and produces heat. ceramics. The food is placed on
This heating effect of a turntable to ensure the even
microwaves does present a distribution of the microwaves
risk to living tissue. to allow the food to be cooked
evenly. The metal casing of the
microwave oven ensures all
the microwaves are reflected
back into the oven and the
door has a wire mesh over the
window which serves the same
purpose.

Microwaves can penetrate

clouds, light rain, snow, haze
and smoke. This makes them
good for transmitting
information from one place to
another. Microwaves can be
focused into highly directional
beams using parabolic dish
antennas. These beams can be
directed like a searchlight to a
receiving aerial based on the
Earth or to a satellite orbiting
the Earth. Microwaves are the
 principle carriers of telegraphic
data transmission (mobile
phones) and also carry
television transmissions.

Radio waves

Properties Description Uses

Radio waves are produced Radio waves are used in
over a large range of communication. Radio waves
frequencies thus like light are not strongly absorbed by
have their own spectrum. the atmosphere and can
This radio spectrum is therefore travel long distances.
divided into radio Radio waves make use of the
frequency bands. The high ionosphere a region of the
frequency short atmosphere about 100km
wavelength band as above the Earths surface and
Wavelength 103 to 105 meters discussed earlier make up approximately 300km thick. In
the microwave category of the ionosphere the
Frequency 1010 to 104 Hertz the electromagnetic atmosphere is partially ionized
spectrum these are known by the action of ultraviolet
Energy 105 Electron Volts
as Ultra High Frequencies radiations from the sunlight.
(UHF). The other frequency Radio waves are bent and
Radio Spectrum
bands are Very High reflected back towards the
Frequencies (VHF), High Earth by the ionosphere. This
Super High Frequencies(SHF) 3 -
Frequencies (HF), Medium bouncing off the ionosphere
30GHz
Frequencies (MF) Low and the Earths surface may
Ultra High Frequencies (UHF) 0.3
Frequencies (LF) and Very occur repeatedly allowing radio
- 3GHz
Low Frequencies (VLF). waves to travel long distances
Very High Frequencies (VHF) 30 -
around the Earth.
300MHz
High Frequencies (HF) 3 - 30MHz
Medium Frequencies (MF) 0.3 -
3MHz
Low Frequencies (UF) 30 -
300kHz
Very Low Frequencies (VLF) 3 -
30kHZ

GHz = Giga Hertz = 109 Hertz

MHz = Mega Hertz = 106 Hertz
kHz = Kilo Hertz = 103 Hertz