SUBJECT: PHYSICS YEAR LEVEL: FOURTH YEAR

PSSLC COMPETENCY: Describe light as an electromagnetic wave

Specific Learning Objectives
Knowledge
1. Describe the different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of wavelength,
frequency, energy, and application
2. Arrange electromagnetic waves according to their frequencies/wavelengths
Skills
Attude

1. Appreciate the importance of knowing the diverse effects and uses of the different regions in
the electromagnetic spectrum

ASSESSMENT
A. DIRECTION: Column A describes the technological gadgets or natural phenomena. Column B is a list
of the regions in the EM Spectrum. Match Column A with Column B.

A B
1. natural radioactivity a. radio waves
2. broadcasting amateur radio, TV, FM radio b. visible light
3. employed in land use surveys c. gamma rays
4. dispersed into different colors by glass prism d. microwaves
5. used in cooking e. x-rays
6. used in detecting counterfeit documents f. infrared
7. applied in medicine g. ultraviolet

B. Fill-in the blanks with appropriate words.

1. Exposure to ________ stimulates the production of vitamin D in the skin.
2. The _________ is the region our eyes are sensitive to.
3. The shorter the wavelength, the ________ the frequency.
4. Short wavelength waves are (more, less ) ________ energetic than long wavelengths ones.
5. ________ have the lowest frequency among EM waves.
6. EM waves with the highest frequency are the_________.
7. _________ are widely used in telecommunication.
8. _________ is commonly employed in radars.
9. The __________ shows the entire distribution of EM waves according to their frequency and
wavelength.
STRATEGIES SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS
Routine Activities
Pre-Activity
Review: Waves and Wave Properties
1. What are waves? What determines the amounts of energy carried
by mechanical waves (EM waves)?
2. What are the characteristics of light waves? Differentiate one from
the other.

Motivation:
Have you listened to your favorite songs over the radio? Have you
experienced having x-rayed? Are you afraid of radiation?

Emphasize that these are just some of the applications of the EM

waves. Although most people have a wrong notion about EM waves
learning more about them will give deeper understanding of their
significant uses.
Activity
A. Let the students study and analyze the enlarged copy of the EM Enlarged copy of the EM
Spectrum Spectrum
B. Let them discuss the uses and effects of EM waves Table of the Uses and Effects
of the EM waves
Analysis
1. Name the regions in the EM Spectrum. (Take note: Light is just a
small portion of the EM Spectrum)
 2. What is the wavelength range and frequency range of light?
3. Light consists of different colors. Which color has the longest
wavelength? the shortest wavelength?
4. Which color has the highest frequency? The lowest frequency?
5. Which EM wave has the longest λ? shortest λ ?
6. Which EM wave has the highest f? lowest f?
7. What is the trend in the frequency when EM waves are arranged in
the order of increasing wavelength?
8. How are λ and f related?
9. The energy of EM waves is related to frequency. High f waves carry
more energy than low f ones. Which waves carry the highest energy?
The lowest energy?
10. How does the energy carried by long λ waves compare with the
energy carried by short λ waves?

B. How important are EM waves? Give the importance of each EM

wave.
Abstraction
1. What make- up the EM Spectrum.?
2. Relate λ, f and energy of an EM wave.
3. Give the importance of EM waves.
Application
Give examples of wireless communication gadgets. How do those
gadgets affect our everyday lives?

Answers to the Assessment

A. 1. C 2. A 3. F 4. B 5. D 6. G 7. E
B. 1. ultraviolet (radiation) 2. visible light 3. higher 4. less 5. radio waves 6. gamma rays
7. microwaves 8. microwaves 9. electromagnetic spectrum

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Table of Uses and Effects of EM Waves

Region of the Spectrum Method of Generation Uses and Effects
Low frequency Oscillation in electric This group carries weather and some
waves circuits aviation broadcasting.
Broadcast radio Oscillation in electric These bands of radio frequencies have
band circuits been set aside for the regular AM
broadcast
band.
High frequency radio waves Oscillation in electric In this region are many kinds of
circuits broadcasting amateur radio, TV, FM radio.
Microwaves Oscillation in electric Used for cooking
circuits Are also used for telecommunication, such
as transmitting long distance telephone
messages.
 Also useful in radar
Can be harmful to humans because they
have been known to damage/kill healthy
cells.
Can cause interference in pacemaker
which could cause it to operate erratically
Infrared Vibration of atoms Infrared photography which is commonly
within molecules employed in land use surveys.
-Also known as radiant energy emitted by
very hot bodies. Hot bodies-heat lamps
are used to warm tired, aching muscles
and to heal wounds.
Visible light Motion of electrons in The portion our eyes are sensitive to.
atoms
Ultraviolet Motion of electrons in Is used to determine false or counterfeit
atoms documents.
Are used to help keep operating rooms in
hospitals sterile.
Exposure to it stimulates the production of
Vitamin D in the skin.
Is responsible for sunburn. Overexposure
can cause skin cancer
X-ray Rapid reactions, Is used in medicine. Detects flaws in
deceleration of charged metals and plastics. Can kill healthy body
particles cells.
Gamma rays Nuclear reactions
radioactive
disintegration

Abstraction
1. The EM spectrum consists of various groups of EM waves, which extends from the long-wavelength
radio waves up to the short-wavelength gamma rays.
2. The longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency and the less energetic the radiation is.
3. The shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency and the more energetic the radiation is.
4. Each sort of radiation in one way or another improved the quality of Filipino life. Radio waves are the
frequencies used today to transmit radio and TV signals. Even Microwaves are also used for
telecommunication such as transmitting long distance telephone messages.

Further Readings
Electromagnetic radiation (often abbreviated E-M radiation or EMR) is a phenomenon that takes the
form of self-propagating waves in a vacuum or in matter. It consists of electric and magnetic field
components which oscillate in phase perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of
energy propagation. Electromagnetic radiation is classified into several types according to the frequency
of its wave; these types include (in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength): radio
waves, microwaves, terahertz radiation, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and
gamma rays. A small and somewhat variable window of frequencies is sensed by the eyes of various
organisms; this is what is called the visible spectrum, or light. EM radiation carries energy and
momentum that may be imparted to matter with which it interacts.

Electromagnetic waves were first postulated by James Clerk Maxwell and subsequently confirmed by
Heinrich Hertz. Maxwell derived a wave form of the electric and magnetic equations, revealing the wave-
like nature of electric and magnetic fields, and their symmetry. Because the speed of EM waves
predicted by the wave equation coincided with the measured speed of light, Maxwell concluded that
light itself is an EM wave.According to Maxwell's equations, a spatially-varying electric field generates a
time-varying magnetic field and vice versa. Therefore, as an oscillating electric field generates an
oscillating magnetic field, the magnetic field in turn generates an oscillating electric field, and so on.
These oscillating fields together form an electromagnetic wave.