Electromagnetic Wave Summary

1. Radio Waves
 Wavelength: 1 millimeter to 100 kilometers
 Frequency: 300GHz to as low as 3GHz
 have waves longer than red light (the longest wave in the visible light spectrum) and
infrared light, which is visible to some animals but not to human eyes.
 Heirich Hertz - German physicist who first conclusively proved the existence of the
electromagnetic waves predicted by James Clerk Maxwell's equations of
electromagnetism.
 James Clerk Maxwell - Scottish scientist in the field of mathematical physics. His most
notable achievement was to formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation,
bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different
manifestations of the same phenomenon
 FM – Frequency Modulated, better sound quality, cannot be transmitted over long
distances, within the frequency range of 88 MHz and 108 MHz.
 AM – Amplitude Modulated, poor sound quality, could be transmitted over long
distances, within the frequency range of 550 KHz and 1600KHz
 RADAR – Radio Detection and Ranging
 least dangerous EM wave in terms of human health
2. Microwave
 Frequency: about 1 GHz to 300 GHz
 Wavelength: about 30 centimeters to 1 millimeter
 shorter than that of a normal radio wave but longer than those of infrared radiation.
Microwaves are used in radar, in communications, and for heating in microwave ovens
and in various industrial processes.
 A microwave oven (also commonly referred to as a microwave) is an electric oven that
heats and cook food by exposing it to electromagnetic radiation in the microwave
frequency range. This induces polar molecules in the food to rotate and produce
thermal energy in a process known as dielectric heating.
3. Infrared
 Wavelength: 700 nanometers (nm) to 1 millimeter (mm)
 Frequency: 430 THz down to 300 GHz
 52 – 55% of Sun’s radiation
 Between microwaves and visible light are infrared waves. Infrared waves are sometimes
classified as "near" infrared and "far" infrared.
 Near infrared waves are the waves that are closer to visible light in wavelength. These
are the infrared waves that are used in your TV remote to change channels. [700 – 810
nm]
 Far infrared waves are further away from visible light in wavelength. Far infrared waves
are thermal and give off heat. [3000 – 100,000 nm]
 Anything that gives off heat radiates infrared waves.
 William Herschel – British astronomer who discovered infrared light in 1800, according
to NASA. In an experiment to measure the difference in temperature between the
 colors in the visible spectrum, he placed thermometers in the path of light within each
color of the visible spectrum. He observed an increase in temperature from blue to red,
and he found an even warmer temperature measurement just beyond the red end of
the visible spectrum
 Infrared rays are invisible to the human eye although longer infrared rays can be sensed
as heat.
4. Visible Light
 Wavelength: 740 nm – 380 nm
 Frequency: 4 × 1014 to 8 × 1014 Hz
 42 – 43 % of the Sun’s EM radiation
 is a form of electromagnetic (EM) radiation generally defined as the wavelengths that
are visible to most human eyes.
 Synonymous to “white light” and “natural light”
 integral to human’s perception of colors
 Could be broken down and perceived to an assortment of red, orange, yellow, green,
blue. indigo, and violet color when passed through a prism
 Lasers - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
5. Ultraviolet
 Wavelength: 10 nm to 400 nm
 Frequency - 8 × 1014 to 3 × 1016 Hz
 3 – 5 % of Sun’s radiation
 Johann Ritter is best known for his discovery of ultraviolet light in 1801
 Ultraviolet designates a band of the electromagnetic spectrum, shorter than that of
visible light but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight, and contributes
about 10% of the total electromagnetic radiation output from the Sun.
 UVA, or near UV (315–400 nm), 95% reach earth’s surface
 UVB, or middle UV (280–315 nm), 5% reach earth’
 UVC, or far UV (180–280 nm), deflected back by the atmosphere
 UV rays are strongest between 10am – 4pm
6. X – Ray
 Wavelength: 0.01 nm to 10 nm
 Frequency: 3x10 1016 Hz to 3x1019 Hz
 Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (1845-1923) who was a Professor at Wurzburg University in
Germany discovered X - ray. Working with a cathode-ray tube in his laboratory,
Roentgen observed a fluorescent glow of crystals on a table near his tube.
 Soft X-ray – between ultraviolet and gamma ray
 Hard X-ray – same region as gamma rays, more penetrating
 CT Scans – Computed Tomography. X-Rays are passed through specific areas of a body
from different directions, thus providing a 3 dimensional cross section of the affected
area
7. Gamma
 Wave length: < 10x10−12 m
 Frequency: > 3x1019 Hz
 Paul Villard, a French chemist and physicist, discovered gamma radiation in 1900, while
studying radiation emitted from radium
 most energetic and most penetrating of all EM wave
 could be shielded/stop by very dense matter like lead or uranium
 capable of destroying DNA and cells with prolonged exposure
 one of the drivers of genetic mutation