Unit C: Electromagnetic

Energy
Chapter 2: Electromagnetic
spectrum

2.1- Electromagnetic Radiation

(EMR)
Defined as a wave with a changing
electric and magnetic field
perpendicular (90) to each other
EMR is all the energy from the sun.
Waves transmit energy from one
location to another through
vibrations; in EMR the fields vibrate
and energy is transferred in space.

EMR

waves

1) Wave terminology

Transverse- vibrations are perpendicular to

the motion of wave.
Longitudinal- vibrations are in the same
direction of motion.
Crest- the highest point of the wave.
Trough- the lowest point of the wave.
Cycle- one complete vibration (1 crest and
1 trough).
Wavelength () length of 1 cycle.
Frequency ( )- number of cycles per
second.

Types of Waves
Longitudinal waves

JAVA APPLET

Transverse Waves-1

Transverse Wave

Transverse Wave
and Longitudinal
Waves

2) Universal Wave equation

Applies to all types of waves; speed
is always the speed of light (c = 3.00
x108 m/s).
Used to calculate speed, wavelength
or frequency.

Where v = speed (m/s)

= wavelength (m)

= frequency (Hz)

Example

An excited atom in a neon sign

emits EMR with a wavelength of 6.4
x10-7 m.
1) Calculate the frequency.

2) If the sign is 25.0m from a person,

how long will it take for light to
reach them?

3) The Electromagnetic spectrum

The complete range of EMR;
arranged using and .
Classifying the different types is done
using:
- Nature of the source.
- Energy transmitted
- Effect on living tissue.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

a) Radio waves

Lowest frequency; highest

Produced by electrons
vibrating in circuits; used for
communications.
Can not penetrate metal =
antennas.
Types:
ELF ( emitted from circuits at
60Hz)
Waves with = 4m used for
MRIs.

Do not harm body tissue (low

energy)
radio waves

b) Microwaves

Used for radar (higher ),

satellites and cooking food
(lower ).
Transmit more energy than
radio waves; = 100 GHz.
Effects:
Living tissue has a high % of
water; can harm tissues
(especially eye lenses).

c) Infrared radiation (IR)

Causes molecules to vibrate =

heat.
Waves with a = 4.3 x1011 Hz
Skin sensors can detect IR
using heat receptors; energy is
not seen, it is felt.
Used for PDAs; the IR is
beamed to the device using
a transmitter; received using a
receiver (Wii).

d) Visible Light

Complete range of all

colors that can be seen
by the eye (ROYGBIV).
Vision limits= violet
(= 400 nm) and Red
(= 700nm).
Visible light is emitted
by things that are hot.
Light is not a wave,
but a photon (packet
of energy); the higher
= lower Energy.

Photosynthesis

Plants use visible light

photons and absorb
the energy in order to
grow.
Photon is absorbed by
chlorophyll and the
energy is used to
convert Carbon
dioxide and water to
sugar.

e) Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation

Emitted by very hot objects;

= 1 x1018 Hz.
Photons have more energy
than visible light; this can
cause cancer/premature aging.
Divided into 3 types:
UVA/B- high energy; protect
using sunglasses
UVC- absorbed by ozone layer
(stratosphere); causes DNA
mutations that can lead to death
(ionizing radiation).

f) X-rays

High energy waves; = 1021.

Created when electrons strike
metal; produced using a high
voltage tube.
Penetrate skin easily (dark), are
absorbed into bones (white) = dark
and light image.
Powerful form of ionizing radiation;
cause deadly DNA mutations.
ALARA keeping the radiation
exposure as low/short as possible.

g) Gamma Radiation
Highest energy
radiation; shortest .
Are radioactive
photons (from
radioactive decay).
Are ionizing radiation;
cause DNA mutations
very quickly.

Radioactivity

2.2) Astronomy

The science of
objects/phenomena that
originate outside Earths
atmosphere.
Stars emit EMR; we can study
them using Telescopes.
The closest star to earth is the
sun: Under high temperatures
(15 000 000 C) and pressures
nuclei fuse together forming 1
nucleus (nuclear fusion).
Nuclear fusion results in the
release of a helium nucleus and
gamma photons.

Sun

a) EMR emitted by the Sun

Then energy from the photon released in

nuclear fusion is absorbed and then
reemitted.
Made up of Visible light and IR
(temperature at surface = 6000C)
Emits all EMR; hottest parts (core) emits
the highest energy EMR.
Solar flares = eruption in suns
atmosphere due to magnetic fields; emits
mostly X-rays and gamma rays.

b) Earths atmosphere
Atmosphere filters all EMR except
radio waves and EMR close to the
visible spectrum from reaching earth.
Gases that absorb radiation:

Oxygen/ozone = UV radiation
H20/CH4/ CO2 = IR
Mesosphere/ionosphere atoms = X-rays
and gamma rays.
Electrons = long wave radio waves.
Earth

c) Properties of light
Refraction = bending of light.
Reflection = wave bounces off
surface.
Polarization = forcing a wave to
vibrate (move) in only 1 direction
Diffraction = bending of a wave as it
passes through an object/opening.

Refraction and Diffraction

Reflection

Diffraction
Polarization
Refraction

d) Telescopes
EMR emitted from the sun provides
information; the first telescope was
invented 400 years ago and studies
EMR.
3 types of telescopes:
1.
Refracting
2.
Reflecting
3.
Multiwavelength

Telescopes

1) Refracting Telescopes
First developed by Galileo
Uses 2 lenses (concave and convex).
Problems:

Quality of glass is very low.

Opening was too small.
Diffraction caused errors in distance to
the sources of EMR.
Galileo Galilei

2) Reflecting Telescopes

Uses a curved mirror

that focuses using
reflection.
Advantages:

Mirrors do not separate

light into colors like
lenses do = higher
resolution.
Large openings = less
diffraction.
Mirror can be supported
from underneath;
maintains shape.
Used to gather Visible
light, IR and UV
radiation.

c) Multiwavelength telescopes

Advanced reflecting
telescopes that are at high
altitudes or orbiting the
earth.
Gathers as many types of
EMR as possible; differences
in telescopes based on type
of radiation absorbed.
Radio waves = huge dish
(largest ); produce lots of
diffraction--- use many radio
telescopes to collect data.
X-rays = Chandra X-ray
telescope uses 2 mirrors and
an X-ray.

d) Analyzing starlight

Scientists use prisms or diffraction

gratings to analyze the EMR into
wavelengths.
Objects at 6000C emit mostly visible
light; create a rainbow or colors called
the continuous spectrum.
Beyond the sun, the spectrum is not
continuous but has dark lines where
radiation has been absorbed = Darkline/absorption spectrum.

neon lights

spectrums

Start spectrums can be used to determine what

gases are in the star.
When current is forced through a gas, the gas
emits wavelengths = emission or bright-line
spectrum.
Spectra are analyzed using a
spectroscope/spectrometer; a diffraction grating
attached to a device that calculates .

Rainbows

e) Doppler Shift

Doppler effect: the frequency of sound

changes as the source moves toward/away
from the observer.
Towards = higher frequency.
Away = Lower frequency.

The same effect happens with EMR:

Blue shift = higher frequencies, moves
towards.
Red shift = lower frequencies; moves away.

sound demo

Doppler Effect

f) Life Cycle of a Star

1.

Formation of a Star

Space has some gases

and dust in it
Over millions of years,
gravitational forces
between the dust and gas
result in NEBULA, large
highly compressed clouds
Gravitational forces
continue and stars are
born in NEBULAE

Aliens

2. STABLE PHASE OF A STAR

Called Main Sequence Star

Gravity created heat and pressure to fuel
fusion reactions
Larger stars have shorter lifespans:

Fg big pressure big more heat rapid fusion rxns run out
of fuel

3. Death of a Star
run out of Hydrogen their
main fuel
Gravity causes core to
collapse
Heat is generated causing
expansion of outer core
Expansion leads to cooling
The cooler larger star is
called a RED GIANT

After the Red Giant

Black
Holes

Giant Stars
Huge Sized Stars
Medium Sized Stars
SUPERNOVA
(1.5 3x sun)
(up to 1.5x sun)
Massive short lived explosionresults in a
become WHITE
BLACKHOLE, an
called SUPERNOVA blows
DWARF
area so dense
away outer layer of star
a stable star with
with such strong
no fuel that
gravity not even
radiates left over
light can escape
NEUTRON STAR results (Pulsar is
heat
one star that emits radio waves)
one star that emits radio waves)

Summary: Life Cycle of a Star

Giant stars

Nebula

Main
Sequence
Star

Red
Giant

Life Cycle of Stars

Huge stars

Medium stars

Supernova

Black Hole

Supernova

Neutron
Star
(eg Pulsar)

White
Dwarf