UNIT 4 CHAPTER 1:

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
PHYSICS: 4TH QUARTER
 PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Draw and show the following parts of a transverse wave:

1. Amplitude
2. Frequency
3. Wavelength
4. Crest
5. Trough
 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• MAXWELL’S
• HEINRICH HERTZ
• Transmission of energy through a vacuum or using no
medium is accomplished by electromagnetic waves,
caused by the osscilation of electric and magnetic
fields. They move at a constant speed of 3x108 m/s.
Often, they are called electromagnetic radiation, light,
or photons.
 WAVE EQUATION

𝑐 = 𝑓λ
where:
c = speed of EM waves in m/s
f = frequency of EM waves in hertz, Hz or 𝑠 −1
λ = wavelength (read as lambda) or EM waves
in meters, m
 PLANCK’S EQUATION
𝐸 = ℎ𝑓
where:
E = energy in joules, J or electronvolt, eV
(1eV=1.6𝑥10−19 𝐽)
h = Planck’s constant between energy and
frequency of the EM waves (6.63𝑥10−34 J·s)
f = frequency in hertz, Hz or 𝑠 −1
USING WAVE EQUATION, PLANCK’S EQUATION MAY ALSO BE
EXPRESSED AS:

ℎ𝑐
𝐸=
λ
 SAMPLE PROBLEMS (1)
Radio waves are EM waves used for
communication. If a radio station broadcast at a
frequency 1.2 𝑥103 𝑘𝐻𝑧, what is the wavelength
of the radio wave? How much energy does the
given frequency represent?
 SOLUTION (1)
A. Wavelength λ Conversion of unit:
1000𝐻𝑧
𝑐 = 𝑓λ f = 1.2 𝑥103 𝑘𝐻𝑧 ( )
1𝑘𝐻𝑧
𝑐
λ= = 1.2 𝑥106 𝐻𝑧
𝑓

Substitution:
3𝑥108 𝑚/𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑠 −1
λ=
1.2𝑥106 𝐻𝑧 𝑜𝑟 𝑠 −1

λ = 2.5 𝑥102 𝑚
 SOLUTION (1)
B. Energy E

𝐸 = ℎ𝑓
E = (6.63𝑥10−34 𝐽·s)(1.2 𝑥106 𝐻𝑧 𝑜𝑟 𝑠 −1 )
E = 7.96 𝑥10−28 𝐽 𝑜𝑟 8.0 𝑥10−28 𝐽
 SEATWORK #1
• SCIENCE BOOK PAGE 75 (PRACTICE EXERCISE)
• ANSWER IN YOUR NOTEBOOK
• SHOW YOUR SOLUTION
LOW FREQUENCY
EM WAVES
 LOW FREQUENCY EM WAVES
Radio Waves
– Radio waves have the lowest frequency but the longest wavelength
– Mainly used for communication
– Classifications:
• Long wave (1 to 2 km)
• Medium wave (AM)
• Very high frequency (FM)
• Ultra high frequency (TV, aircraft radios)
 LOW FREQUENCY EM WAVES
Microwaves
– Basically extremely high frequency radio waves
– These waves are produced by various types of
transmitters.
– Mobile phones (transmitter chip)
– Microwave oven (magnetron)
– Also used in satellite communication, mobile phones, and
radar used for weather monitoring and navigation in air
and sea.
 LOW FREQUENCY EM WAVES
Infrared waves
– Infrared light is invisible to the human eye, although longer
infrared waves can be sensed as heat.
– Special instruments such as night vision goggles and
infrared cameras allow you to see infrared waves emitted
from humans and animals.
– Major source of infrared radiation is the sun.
– Objects such as infrared lamps, stoves, flat irons, burning
coal, and oven toasters also give off infrared radiations.
 LOW FREQUENCY EM WAVES
Visible Light
– Visible light waves are the only electromagnetic waves we can see.
– We see these waves as the colors of the rainbow.
– Each color has a different wavelength. Red has the longest wavelength and violet has the
shortest wavelength.
– When all the waves are seen together, they make white light.
– Dispersion is the phenomenon which gives you the separation of colors in a prism.
– Objects are not primary source of visible light, they are actually reflecting the light falling on
them. The sun is the main source of light in our planet.
– The color of an object that we see is the color of light reflected from the object and the
remaining all colors are absorbed.
– Another source is of light is the visible laser.
HIGH FREQUENCY
EM WAVES
 HIGH FREQUENCY EM WAVES
Ultraviolet (UV) Rays
– The Sun is a source of the full spectrum of
ultraviolet radiation, which is commonly
subdivided into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C.
 TYPES OF UV RAYS
• UV-A rays
- longest wavelength and lowest energy than UVB and UVC rays.
- It can enter the cornea of the eyes and reach the lens and the retina.

• UV-B rays
- have shorter wavelength and higher energy than UV-A rays.
- UVB rays stimulate melanin, cause sunburn, discoloration, wrinkles and other signs of premature aging of
the skin..
- about 95 percent UV-B rays are absorbed by ozone in the Earth's atmosphere.

• UV-C rays
- They carry higher energy compared to UVB and UVB rays.
- Ozone and oxygen absorbs all UVC rays.
- UVC rays will continue to enter the Earth’s surface if the ozone layer keeps depleting.
 HIGH FREQUENCY EM WAVES
X-rays
• They are emitted by machines used for medical
diagnosis, and industrial machines that are used to
measure tiny objects and detect flaws in products.
• They carry energy that is strong enough to cause the
ionization of atoms and disruption of molecular bonds.
• Denser materials absorb x-rays like bones and other
opaque objects.
 HIGH FREQUENCY EM WAVES
Gamma Rays
• They have the shortest wavelength and highest
frequency among the EM waves
• The great amount of energy that they carry also
makes it as another form of ionization radiation.
• Gamma rays are emitted by the nucleus of an
atom, while x-rays are by electrons surrounding
the nucleus.
 HIGH FREQUENCY EM WAVES
Cosmic Rays
 REVIEW
• Electromagnetic waves were first generated by
__________.
• __________ is an empty space.
• The electric and magnetic fields of an electromagnetic
waves are ______________ to each other.
• The two types of EM waves are transverse and
__________.
• What is the relationship between frequency and
wavelength?
• Draw and label the parts of a wave.
 SEATWORK #2
• What forms of waves make up the high frequency
group of EM waves?
• Why do high frequency EM waves pose more
health hazards than low frequency EM waves?
• How do UVA, UVB and UVC rays differ from each
other?
• CONTINUATION PAGE 87-88