What are electromagnetic waves?

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves made up of a vibrating electric field and a
vibrating magnetic. The two fields vibrate at right angles to one another in the direction in
which the wave is traveling.

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

The electromagnetic spectrum is a family of waves consisting of, gamma ray, X-rays, ultraviolet,
visible light, infra-red, microwaves and radio waves.
All the waves that make up the electromagnetic spectrum travel at exactly the same speed
through space (vacuum). This speed is 3 x 10 8 ms1 which is the speed of light.
Although the electromagnetic spectrum is made up of many different waves with different
properties, they are all electromagnetic radiations.
Electromagnetic radiations can be considered as a stream of photons. Photons are particles of
zero mass and charge which travel in a wave like pattern at the speed of light. Each photon
has a certain quantity or pattern of energy.

Thus a beam of electromagnetic radiation delivers energy in photons and the difference
between the various electromagnetic radiations is the amount of energy within the photons
they possess. Electromagnetic radiations with high frequencies such as gamma rays and X-rays
have photons of high energies whereas electromagnetic radiations with low frequencies such as
radio waves have photons of low energies. The energy delivered by each electromagnetic
radiation beam increases with the frequency of the electromagnetic wave.
Intensity of an Electromagnetic Radiation beam
The intensity of a beam of electromagnetic radiation is the energy it delivers per second. The
energy of the beam of electromagnetic radiation is delivered by the photons. Therefore the
intensity depends on two things;
1. The number of photons that are arriving per second
2. The amount of energy carried by each photon
The number of photons arriving per second

The two microwave ovens above have the same type of electromagnetic radiation source in the
form of microwaves. However the one on the left is more powerful and cooks the chicken
quicker. This is because the more powerful microwave oven has more photons arriving per
second on the chicken thereby increasing the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation beam.
The amount of energy carried by each photon
High frequency radiations have high energy photons. Therefore, if a gamma ray source was
emitting the same photons per second as an infrared source the intensity from the gamma rays
would be higher as the photons from this source carry a greater amount of energy than infrared
source. Infrared have a smaller frequency than gamma rays and so the photons have a smaller
amount of energy.

Gamma Rays
Properties

Wavelength 1012 meters

Frequency 1020 Hertz
Energy 107 Electron Volts

Description

Uses

Gamma rays have the smallest

wavelength and their photons
have the most energy of all the
waves in the electromagnetic
spectrum. They are generated
by the decay of radioactive
atoms and nuclear explosions.
The high energy of gamma ray
photons means they can pass
through most things. Gamma
rays are a form of ionizing
radiation, which means that
when they pass through matter
they pass on their energy to
electrons in the atoms they hit.
This makes them dangerous as
they can ionize atoms in the
body thereby damaging and
killing cells. If the DNA in a cell
is damaged by gamma
radiation it can mutate and
cause cancer.

The ionizing nature of gamma

rays has been used by
medicine to its advantage. By
carefully directing and
controlling a beam of gamma
radiation onto cancer cells they
can be destroyed and their
development controlled.
Gamma rays are used to
sterilize food and hospital
equipment. Gamma rays kill
bacteria and mould in food
prolonging its shelf life.

Description

Uses

X-rays are produced from the

collision of high speed
electrons with metals. With a
high frequency and small
wavelength the high energy
photons associated with X-rays
enables them to penetrate
most materials. X-rays are also
ionizing radiation which makes
them dangerous as they can
cause biological changes in
living cells.

X-rays are mainly used in the

field of medicine. They are
used to produce images of
bones and teeth vital for
diagnosis and treatment. By
placing a photographic film
underneath the area of
interest and directing a beam
of x-rays an image is produced
on the film. Parts of the body
where the x-rays pass through
easily are shown up as dark
areas on the film. Where the x-

X-Rays
Properties

Wavelength 1010 meters

Frequency 1018 Hertz

Energy 105 Electron Volts

rays find it difficult to

penetrate such as bones or
teeth shown up as lighter areas
on the film. Like gamma rays
the ionizing potential of x-rays
can also be used in the
treatment of cancer. X-rays are
also used in airports to check
baggage and in industry as a
quality control tool for e.g. to
check packaged food do not
contain metal or stones

Ultraviolet Rays
Properties

Wavelength 108 meters

Frequency 1016 Hertz
Energy 102 Electron Volts

Description

Uses

Ultraviolet radiation is
produced by hot objects such
as the sun or by the high
temperature sparks produced
during electric welding.
Ultraviolet rays have less
energetic photons compared
to gamma rays and x-rays and
a lower penetration power.
Their effect on humans is
therefore limited to the skin.
Exposure to ultraviolet rays can
cause a suntan (pigmentation
of the skin) and sunburn. At
high levels of exposure skin
cancer can result and damage
to the retina. This why
sunscreen and glasses with
ultraviolet protection are
important.
Fortunately most of the
ultraviolet radiation in sunlight
is absorbed by the oxygen in
the ozone layer of the Earths
atmosphere.

Ultraviolet is used in detecting

forged bank notes forged
notes glow differently in
ultraviolet light. Security pens
for marking goods contain a
special ink which only shows
up under ultraviolet light.
Ultraviolet has positive effects
on the human body as it
stimulates the production of
vitamin D. It is used in the field
of medicine for phototherapy
in the treatment of some skin
disorders.
Ultraviolet radiations kill
microbes and are used in the
sterilization of surgical
equipment.
Fluorescent lamps make use of
ultraviolet radiations. When an
electric current passes through
a mercury vapour ultraviolet
rays are produce. These rays
collide with fluorescent
powder on the inside of the
tube making them fluoresce

and converting the energy to

visible light. Fluorescent lamps
are more efficient than
ordinary filament lamps.
Visible Light
Properties

Wavelength 107 meters

Frequency 7.5 x 1014 Hertz
Energy 101 Electron Volts

Description

Uses

This is the small part of the

electromagnetic spectrum
that is detectable by the
human eye. All objects with
enough heat to glow emit
light waves. The sun is the
main source of light. Light
bulbs work on the heating
effect caused by electrical
resistance in a filament lamp
to cause it to glow and emit
light.

Human sight makes use of the

wavelengths from visible light,
thus we need light in order to
see.

White light is made up of a

mixture of colours. This
spectrum of colours making
up white light can be viewed
when light is dispersed such
as in a rainbow. The colours,
in order are red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo
and violet.

Light plays a critical role in

communication systems.
Lighthouses use light to
communicate the potential
hazards along a stretch of
coastline. Morse code between
ships during radio silence can
be achieved using a flash light.
Transmitting light through air
has setbacks in that the
transmitter and receiver must
be in view of each other. Also
light waves are absorbed by
rain, fog and other bad
weather conditions. These
setbacks were resolved with
the advent of optical fibres.
Optical fibres are made from
very pure glass and allow light
waves carrying information to
travel through them using the
principle of total internal
reflection. The information the
light waves carry is digital and
is in the form of 1s and 0s. As
the light wave carries a digital
signal, it is of high quality and
does not get weaker over long

distances. Light waves are

therefore used to carry vast
amount of information at high
speeds through optical fibre
systems making the extremely
important in the field of
communications.
Infrared
Properties

Description

Uses

All objects above the

temperature of absolute zero
(-273C) emit infra-red
radiation. In other words all
warm objects give off infrared rays.

Wavelength 105 meters

Frequency 4 x 1014 Hertz
Energy 101 Electron Volts

Thermal imaging cameras

make use of infra-red
radiations emitted from
objects to form an image.
These are used by firemen to
detect people where visibility is
severely reduced by smoke.
Infra-red radiations cannot be Police also use thermal imaging
seen by the human eye but
cameras to track criminal
their effects can be sense by during the night. Thermal
the skin as warmth.
imaging cameras are also used
to produce thermographs of
objects so the heat loss from
them can be studied. For
example a thermograph of a
house can give information
about where the main areas of
heat loss are therefore
ensuring the correct areas are
insulated.
Infrared waves are also used as
a source for carrier signals in
fibre optics.
Burglar alarms use sensors
which detect the infra-red rays
given off by intruders.

Microwaves

Properties

Description

Uses

Microwaves are categorized

as radio waves. They have the
shortest wavelengths of all
the radio waves.

Wavelength 103 meters

Frequency 1010 Hertz
Energy 104 Electron Volts

The property of microwaves to

cause molecules to vibrate is
put to use to cook food in
microwave ovens. In a
microwave oven the
Microwaves are non ionizing microwaves are produced by a
radiations. Their frequencies device called a Magnetron.
are a lot lower than those of These produce microwaves of
gamma rays and x-rays and
a longer wavelength
the energy of their photons is (approximately 10 to 20 cm).
considerably lesser. They
The microwaves are absorbed
therefore do not have the
by the water and the fat
damaging properties of
molecules in the food heating
ionizing radiations. However, them up from inside thereby
in sufficient intensity they can cooking the food. Microwaves
cause molecules in matter to are not absorbed by dry
vibrate which in turn cause
materials such as glass and
friction and produces heat.
ceramics. The food is placed on
This heating effect of
a turntable to ensure the even
microwaves does present a
distribution of the microwaves
risk to living tissue.
to allow the food to be cooked
evenly. The metal casing of the
microwave oven ensures all
the microwaves are reflected
back into the oven and the
door has a wire mesh over the
window which serves the same
purpose.
Microwaves can penetrate
clouds, light rain, snow, haze
and smoke. This makes them
good for transmitting
information from one place to
another. Microwaves can be
focused into highly directional
beams using parabolic dish
antennas. These beams can be
directed like a searchlight to a
receiving aerial based on the
Earth or to a satellite orbiting
the Earth. Microwaves are the

principle carriers of telegraphic

data transmission (mobile
phones) and also carry
television transmissions.
Radio waves
Properties

Description

Radio waves are produced

over a large range of
frequencies thus like light
have their own spectrum.
This radio spectrum is
divided into radio
frequency bands. The high
frequency short
wavelength band as
Wavelength 103 to 105 meters discussed earlier make up
the microwave category of
Frequency 1010 to 104 Hertz
the electromagnetic
spectrum these are known
Energy 105 Electron Volts
as Ultra High Frequencies
(UHF). The other frequency
Radio Spectrum
bands are Very High
Frequencies (VHF), High
Super High Frequencies(SHF) 3 Frequencies (HF), Medium
30GHz
Frequencies (MF) Low
Ultra High Frequencies (UHF) 0.3
Frequencies (LF) and Very
- 3GHz
Low Frequencies (VLF).
Very High Frequencies (VHF) 30 300MHz
High Frequencies (HF) 3 - 30MHz
Medium Frequencies (MF) 0.3 3MHz
Low Frequencies (UF) 30 300kHz
Very Low Frequencies (VLF) 3 30kHZ
GHz = Giga Hertz = 109 Hertz
MHz = Mega Hertz = 106 Hertz
kHz = Kilo Hertz = 103 Hertz

Uses
Radio waves are used in
communication. Radio waves
are not strongly absorbed by
the atmosphere and can
therefore travel long distances.
Radio waves make use of the
ionosphere a region of the
atmosphere about 100km
above the Earths surface and
approximately 300km thick. In
the ionosphere the
atmosphere is partially ionized
by the action of ultraviolet
radiations from the sunlight.
Radio waves are bent and
reflected back towards the
Earth by the ionosphere. This
bouncing off the ionosphere
and the Earths surface may
occur repeatedly allowing radio
waves to travel long distances
around the Earth.