Chapter 8

Electromagnetic radiation
 Electromagnetic radiation is a
disturbance in an electric field.

• vibrating electric charges that can travel

through space where there is no matter
 Electromagnetic radiation properties

1. All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed through space (the
speed of light) and Do not need matter to transfer energy.

2. They obey the wave equation,

3. Some substances absorb EM waves, some reflect them and others

transmit them

4. They carry energy from one place to another and can absorb by matter
to cause heating and other effect.

5. Transverse wave

6. The ones humans can see are called visible light.

7. Gamma rays, X-rays, Ultra-violet waves, Light, Infra-red rays,

Microwaves, and Radio waves are all electromagnetic waves with
different wavelengths
 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Because all electromagnetic waves have the
same speed in vacuum, the relationship
between the wavelength and the frequency is
simple:

The full range of frequencies of

electromagnetic waves is called the
electromagnetic spectrum.
 Light waves
Transverse Waves
• Light is a disturbance of electric and magnetic
fields that travels in the form of a wave.
• Energy is perpendicular to direction of motion
• Moving photon creates electric & magnetic
field
– Light has BOTH Electric & Magnetic fields
at right angles!
 Speed of light
• Light travels at 300,000,000 meters/second
• It takes 8 minutes for a light wave (or a photon)
to travel from the sun to the earth.
• We see the moon because it reflects the sun’s
light
• It takes 1 second for light reflected off the moon
to reach the earth.
• Color depends on frequency
 Infrared radiation
• Infrared is a certain region in the light spectrum
• Ranges from .7µ to 1000µ or .1mm
• Broken into near, mid, and far infrared
• One step up on the light spectrum from visible light
• Measure of heat
 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Remote controls operate using infrared
radiation. The frequencies are from 1012 Hz to
4.3 x 1014 Hz.
Ultraviolet Radiation
• Ultraviolet light starts with frequencies
just above those of visible light, from
7.5 x 1014 Hz to 1017 Hz. These rays
cause tanning, burning, and skin
cancer. Some insects can see in the
ultraviolet.
• Helps body make vitamin D for
healthy bones and teeth
 The Ozone Layer

• Stratosphere
– 10-30 Miles
• UV-A, UV-B, UV- C
– 99%
UV’s EffEcts on HUman
Body
• Minor effects
on skin
• Cancer
• Eye problems
 Radio waves
Radio waves are the lowest-frequency
electromagnetic waves that we find useful.
Radio and television broadcasts are in the
range of 106 Hz to 109 Hz.
Microwaves are used for cooking and also for
telecommunications. Microwave frequencies
are from 109 Hz to 1012 Hz, with wavelengths
from 1 mm to 30 cm.
 The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Visible light has a fairly narrow frequency range,

from 4.3 x 1014 Hz (red) to 7.5 x 1014 Hz (violet).
X-rays have higher frequencies still, from 1017 Hz
to 1020 Hz. They are used for medical imaging.
 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Gamma rays have the highest frequencies of all,
above 1020 Hz. These rays are extremely
energetic, and are produced in nuclear reactions.
They are destructive to living cells and are
therefore used to destroy cancer cells and to
sterilize food.
 X Rays and Gamma Rays
• EM waves with
shortest wavelength &
highest frequency
• High Energy- go
through skin & muscle
• High level exposure
causes cancer
PAGE 35
 PAGE 35
• 1.a.
• 2. A = RADIO, B = X RAYS
• 3.a. ultraviolet
– B. micro
– C. gamma
– D. ir
– E. micro
– F. x rays.
• 4. a, 3x10 8 x 100. 10 6 = 3
– B. T = lamda/v = 60 x 10 3/3 x 10 8
– = 2 X 10 -4 S