CONTENT : ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS ( 30 MINUTES)

1. Electromagnetic spectrum The distribution of all the different types of

electromagnetic waves arranged in ascending order of wave lengths or
frequencies.

2. Common Properties Of All Electromagnetic Waves.

Common properties of electromagnetic waves

1.Transverse waves

2.Travel at the same speed of 3 x 108 ms-1 in

vacuum but slow down in other material media.

3. Travel through solids, liquids, gases and

vacuum.

4. Obey the laws of reflection,refraction,diffraction

and interference.

5. Can be absorbed and emitted by matter.

6. The wave equation , v = f λ

7.Transfer energy from one place to one another

without the need for a material medium.
 Types of EM Source Application Danger/over
waves exposure
Radio wave Transmitter Communication Large doses of
Transmitting TV and radio wave may
radio programmes cause cancer and
leukemia.
Microwave Microwave Communicate with Burns if
transmitter satellite. concentrated
Heating food in Affects the brain
microwave oven Cataracts
Telephony
Infrared Sun Remote control Burns if
Hot objects Security system concentrated
Thermal imaging
Visible light Sun Seeing Very intense
Hot objects Photography visible light can
Flame Photosynthesis damage the retina
Ultraviolet rays Sun Kill microbes Sunburn
Special lamp Detect security codes on Skin cancer
expensive equipment Cataracts
X - rays X- rays Imaging defects in bones Destroy body cells
machine Security system Cause mutation
and cancer
Gamma rays Radioactive Kill cancer cells Destroy body cells
nuclei Radiotheraphy Cause mutations
decaying Sterilisation and cancer
Medical tracers

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ACTIVITIES (50 minutes)

1. The diagram shows an electromagnetic spectrum

The waves at P,Q,R and S are

P Q R S

A. ultraviolet x-ray microwave infrared

B. x-ray ultraviolet infrared microwave
C. microwave infrared ultraviolet x-ray
D. x-ray infrared ultraviolet microwave

2. At an airport, a passenger’s bag is placed in the baggage scanner.

The contents in the bag are examined by using

A. x-ray
B. gamma rays
C. ultraviolet rays
D. infrared rays

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3.All electromagnetic waves have the same
A. speed in vacuo
B. speed in given medium
C. frequency in vacuo
D. frequency in a given medium

4.Which of the following lists of electromagnetic radiation is arranged in order of

increasing length?

A. ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, radio waves

B. infrared, ultraviolet, visible light, radio waves
C. ultraviolet, visible light, radio waves, infrared
D infrared, radio waves, ultraviolet, visible light

5. Arrange the following electromagnetic waves in the order of decreasing

wavelength

Ultraviolet x- ray red light violet light microwaves infrared

________________________________________________________________

6. Name three of the sources of electromagnetic waves.

________________________________________________________________

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7. Name one property that all electromagnetic waves have in common.

________________________________________________________________

8. State one application for each type of the following electromagnetic waves .

(a) gamma rays: ________________________________________________

(b) ultraviolet rays :______________________________________________

(c) infrared rays : _______________________________________________

(d) radio waves:_________________________________________________

(e) x –rays : ____________________________________________________

(f) visible light: ________________________________________________

(g) microwaves:________________________________________________

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9. Name the electromagnetic waves which are used widely in the field of

(a) communication

________________________________________________________________

(b) medicine

________________________________________________________________

10(a) Which component of the electromagnetic spectrum is detrimental to us if

exposed excessively?

________________________________________________________________

(b)For each type of electromagnetic waves mentioned in (a), state the

detrimental effects concerned.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

ASSESEMENT ( 40 minutes)
1. The diagram below shows some of the components of the electromagnetic
spectrum.

radio microwaves infrared A ultraviolet x-rays gamma

waves rays

(a) What is the name of component A?

________________________________________________________________

(b) What is the speed , in vacuum, of radio waves and ultraviolet waves?

________________________________________________________________

(c) All the electromagnetic waves are transverse. What is the meaning of
transverse?

________________________________________________________________

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2. (a) Figure 1 shows the main components of electromagnetic spectrum in order
of increasing frequency.

radio A visible B x-rays C

Increasing frequency

Figure 1

What are the names of the missing components marked A to C?

A: __________________

B: __________________

C: __________________

(b)Figure 2 shows the seven components of visible light which is part of the
electromagnetic spectrum

violet indigo X Y Z orange red

Figure 2

Identify the missing components X, Y and Z.

X: ____________________

Y : ____________________

Z: _____________________

(d) State two common characteristics of all electromagnetic waves when they
travel from the Sun to Earth.

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

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3. The following are types of waves

Infrared ocean waves radio

Sound ultraviolet

(a) Which of these waves are in the electromagnetic spectrum?

________________________________________________________________

(b) State one property of all electromagnetic waves

________________________________________________________________

4.Figure (a) shows an airport radar transmitting microwave signals. Microwaves

are transmitted to determine the position of aeroplanes.

(a) microwaves are a type of ___________________ waves.

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(b) The radar transmit a signal at a velocity of 3.0 x 10 8 ms-1 towards the
aeroplane P and detects the reflected signal 4.0 x 10 -4 s later.
Calculate the distance of P from the radar transmitter at that time.

(c)The radar detects the same signal after reflection by another aeroplane,Q. The
signal from Q arrives later than the signal from P.
(i)Compare the distances of P and Q from the radar.

________________________________________________________________

(ii)State how the difference of distance of P and Q from the radar is

determined at any time.

________________________________________________________________

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Answers of ACTIVITIES
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. A
5.microwaves, infrared, red light, violet light, ultraviolet, x-ray
6.sun, lighted bulb, fire
7.transferring of energy from the source to its surrounding area
8(a)food sterilization
(b)scanning body(in medicine)
(c)kill bacteria
(d)to light up dark places
(e)remote control
(f)telecommunication
(g)broadcasting
9.(a)microwaves, radio waves
(b)gamma rays, x-rays
10.(a)gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet
(b)gamma rays : cause cancer
X rays : cause cell danger
Ultraviolet : cause skin cancer

Answers of ASSESMENT
1.(a) visible light
(b)3 x 10 8 ms-1
(c)Transverse waves mean that the waves travel in a direction perpendicular
to the direction of vibration.

2.(a) A : infrared
B : ultraviolet
C : gamma rays

(b) X : blue
Y: green
Z : yellow
(c)1. They can travel through in vacuo
2. They obeys the laws of refraction, reflection, diffraction and interference
3. (a) radio, infrared and ultraviolet
(b) All electromagnetic waves travel with the same speed of 3 x 10 8 ms-1

4.(a) electromagnetic waves

2d
(b) V=
t

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 3 × 10 8 × 4 × 10 4
V=
2

= 60000 m

(c)The distance of Q is greater than the distance of P from the radar

(c) Determine the shortest distance of P or Q to the radar i.e the distance of P to
the radar is equal as Q to the radar.

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