Electromagnetic waves

Electromagnetic waves or EM waves are waves that are created as a result of

vibrations between an electric field and a magnetic field. In other words, EM
waves are composed of oscillating magnetic and electric fields.

Description: Electromagnetic waves are formed when an electric field comes

in contact with a magnetic field. They are hence known as ‘electromagnetic’
waves. The electric field and magnetic field of an electromagnetic wave are
perpendicular (at right angles) to each other. They are also perpendicular to
the direction of the EM wave.

EM waves travel with a constant velocity of 3.00 x 108 ms-1 in vacuum. They
are deflected neither by the electric field, nor by the magnetic field. However,
they are capable of showing interference or diffraction. An electromagnetic
wave can travel through anything - be it air, a solid material or vacuum. It
does not need a medium to propagate or travel from one place to another.
Mechanical waves (like sound waves or water waves), on the other hand, need
a medium to travel. EM waves are 'transverse' waves. This means that they
are measured by their amplitude (height) and wavelength (distance between
the highest/lowest points of two consecutive waves).

The highest point of a wave is known as 'crest', whereas the lowest point is
known as 'trough'. Electromagnetic waves can be split into a range of
frequencies. This is known as the electromagnetic spectrum. Examples of EM
waves are radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, X-rays, gamma rays, etc.

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Electromagnetic waves are used to transmit long/short/FM wavelength radio
waves, and TV/telephone/wireless signals or energies. They are also
responsible for transmiting energy in the form of microwaves, infrared
radiation (IR), visible light (VIS), ultraviolet light (UV), X-rays, and gamma
rays. Each region of this spectrum plays an important part in our lives, and in
the business involving communication technology. The list given above are in
increasing frequency (or decreasing wavelength) order. Here again is the list
of regions and the approximate wavelengths in them. For simplicity, we
choose to give only the magnitudes of frequencies. That is we give log
(frequency) (log(f)).

Region: Radio, FM, TV, microwave, IR, VIS, UV, X-rays, Gamma rays.

Wavelength: 600 m 20 m 1mc 1mm 0.1mm 1e-9 m 1e-12 m 1e-15 m

log (f): 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 20 23

Electromagnetic radiations are usually treated as wave motions. The

electronic and magnetic fields oscillate in directions perpendicular to each
other and to the direction of motion of the wave.

The wavelength, the frequency, and the speed of light obey the following
relationship:

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 wavelength * frequency = speed of light.
The speed of light is usually represented by c, the wavelength by the lower
case Greek letter lambda, l and the frequency by lower case Greek letter nu n.
In these symbols, the above formula is:

ln=c
The electromagnetic radiation is the fundation for radar, which is used for
guidance and remote sensing for the study of the planet Earth.

The Visible Spectrum

Wavelengths of the visible region of the spectrum range from 700 nm for red
light to 400 nm for violet light.

red 700 nm

orange 630

yellow 550

green 500

blue 450

violet 400

There is no need to memorize these numbers, but knowing that the visible
region has such a narrow range of 400-700 nm is handy at times when
referring to certain light.

Photons - bundles of electromagnetic energy

In his research on the radiation from a hot (black) body, Max. Planck made a
simple proposal. He suggested that light consists of photons. The energy, E, of
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each individual photon of a monochromatic light wave, is proportional to the
frequency, n, of the light:

E=hn
where h (= 6.626*10-34 J s) is now known as the Planck constant. Often, we
write h = 6.626e-34 J s for simplicity.

For the convenience of your future study of electromagnetic radiation, you

might want to know the units often used for it.

1 Hz = 1, hertz: cycle per second, for frequency

1 nm = 1E-9 m, nanometer: for wavelength of IR, visible, UV and X-rays.
1 pm = 1E-12 m, picometer: for X-rays and gamma rasy.

The Photoelectric Effect

When photons shines on a metal plate, they free electrons. Energy is required
to pull the electrons out of the metal surface, and this amount of energy is
calle threshold. The excess energy of the photon appear as the kinetic energy
of the electrons. Here is a simulation of the photoelectric effect, which gives a
slightly different perspective. A photoelectric effect demonstration is also fun
for you if you have the time.

Einstein learned of Planck's proposal, and he wanted to perform experiments

to show if the proposal is true. At that time, the photoelectric effect was
known, and he measured the kinetic energy of electrons released by photons.
He did find a linear relationship between the kinetic energy of the electrons
and the frequency of light used, (see diagram below).

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Furthermore, he found the light of minimum
frequency needed to release electrons from a
metal to be constant, and this energy must be
overcome in order to take the electron out of the
metal. This energy is called the threshold
energy, W. The formula to descirbe
photoelectron kinetic energy Ek is

Ek = h v - W
and the proportional constant is what is known as the Planck Constant. The
minimum frequency is called threshold frequency. The quantity h v is the
energy of the photon. In other words, the energy of the photon is completely
given to the electron:

h v = Ek + W
Energy is conserved, neither created, nor destroyed. This formula also
illustrates the (great) principle of conservation of energy.

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Types of Electromagnetic Waves

The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum encompasses all wave frequencies,

including radio, visible light and X-rays. All EM waves are made up of photons
that travel through space until they interact with matter; some waves are
absorbed and others are reflected. Though the sciences generally classify EM
waves into seven basic types, all are manifestations of the same phenomenon.

Radio Waves: Instant Communication

Radio waves are the lowest-frequency waves in the EM spectrum. Radio

waves can be used to carry other signals to receivers that subsequently
translate these signals into usable information. Many objects, both natural and

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man-made, emit radio waves. Anything that emits heat emits radiation across
the entire spectrum, but in different amounts. Stars, planets and other cosmic
bodies emit radio waves. Radio and television stations and cellphone
companies all produce radio waves that carry signals to be received by the
antennae in your television, radio or cellphone.

Microwaves: Data and Heat

Microwaves are the second-lowest frequency waves in the EM spectrum.

Whereas radio waves can be up to miles in length, microwaves measure from
a few centimeters up to a foot. Due to their higher frequency, microwaves can
penetrate obstacles that interfere with radio waves such as clouds, smoke and
rain. Microwaves carry radar, landline phone calls and computer data
transmissions as well as cook your dinner. Microwave remnants of the "Big
Bang" radiate from all directions throughout the universe.

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Infrared Waves: Invisible Heat

Infrared waves are in the lower-middle range of frequencies in the EM

spectrum, between microwaves and visible light. The size of infrared waves
ranges from a few millimeters down to microscopic lengths. The longer-
wavelength infrared waves produce heat and include radiation emitted by
fire, the sun and other heat-producing objects; shorter-wavelength infrared
rays do not produce much heat and are used in remote controls and imaging
technologies.

Visible Light Rays

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Visible light waves let you see the world around you. The different frequencies
of visible light are experienced by people as the colors of the rainbow. The
frequencies move from the lower wavelengths, detected as reds, up to the
higher visible wavelengths, detected as violet hues. The most noticeable
natural source of visible light is, of course, the sun. Objects are perceived as
different colors based on which wavelengths of light an object absorbs and
which it reflects.

Ultraviolet Waves: Energetic Light

Ultraviolet waves have even shorter wavelengths than visible light. UV waves
are the cause of sunburn and can cause cancer in living organisms. High-
temperature processes emit UV rays; these can be detected throughout the
universe from every star in the sky. Detecting UV waves assists astronomers,
for example, in learning about the structure of galaxies.

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X-rays: Penetrating Radiation

X-rays are extremely high-energy waves with wavelengths between 0.03 and
3 nanometers -- not much longer than an atom. X-rays are emitted by sources
producing very high temperatures like the sun's corona, which is much hotter
than the surface of the sun. Natural sources of x-rays include enormously
energetic cosmic phenomena such as pulsars, supernovae and black holes. X-
rays are commonly used in imaging technology to view bone structures within
the body.

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Gamma Rays: Nuclear Energy

Gamma waves are the highest-frequency EM waves, and are emitted by only
the most energetic cosmic objects such pulsars, neutron stars, supernova and
black holes. Terrestrial sources include lightning, nuclear explosions and
radioactive decay. Gamma wave wavelengths are measured on the subatomic
level and can actually pass through the empty space within an atom. Gamma
rays can destroy living cells; fortunately, the Earth's atmosphere absorbs any
gamma rays that reach the planet.

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Characteristics Of Electromagnetic Waves

According to Maxwell, a varying the electric field gives rise to a magnetic field.
An accelerated charge produces a time varying magnetic field which in turn
produces a time varying electric field. Thus, electromagnetic wave consists of
sinusoidal time varying electric and magnetic fields and both the fields are
perpendicular to each other. The Characteristics Of Electromagnetic Waves is
given below.

Characteristics Of Electromagnetic Waves

Listed below are some of the important characteristics of electromagnetic

waves.

 Electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature as they propagate by

varying the electric and magnetic fields such that the two fields are
perpendicular to each other.

 Accelerated charges are responsible to produce electromagnetic waves.

 Electromagnetic waves have constant velocity in vacuum and it is nearly

equal to 3×108ms−1 which is denoted by C = 1√μoϵo.

 Electromagnetic wave propagation it does not require any material

medium to travel.

 The inherent characteristic of electromagnetic wave is its frequency.

Their frequencies remain unchanged but its wavelength changes when
the wave travels from one medium to another.

 The refractive index of a material is given by:n = √μrϵr

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  Electromagnetic wave follows the principle of superposition.

 The light vector (also known as the electric vector) is reason for the
optical effects due to an electromagnetic wave.

 In an electromagnetic wave the oscillating electric and magnetic fields

are in same phase and their magnitudes have a constant ratio. The ratio
of the amplitudes of electric and magnetic fields is equal to the velocity
of the electromagnetic wave.C = E0B0

 The energy in carried by the electric and magnetic fields of

electromagnetic waves are equal, i.e. the electric energy (uE) and the
magnetic energy (uM) are equal; uE = uM.

 There is a vector quantity S, called Poynting vector which represents the

energy transferred by electromagnetic waves per second per unit area.

S→ = 1μE→ × B→

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