The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Chapter 22 Section 2
Objectives:
 Identify how electromagnetic waves differ
from each other

 Describe some uses for radio waves and

microwaves

 List examples of how infrared waves and

visible light are important in your life

 Explain how ultraviolet light, x-rays, and

gamma rays can be both helpful and harmful
Characteristics of EM Waves:
 All EM waves travel the same speed in a
vacuum (300,000 km/s)

 Electromagnetic Spectrum: the entire range of

EM waves (all of the frequencies or
wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation)

 Divided into regions according to wavelength

(some have overlapping ranges)
Electromagnetic Spectrum:

http://www.sp.phy.cam.ac.uk/SPWeb/research/thzcamera/THzSpectrum2.gif
Radio Waves:
 Wide range of waves

 Longest wavelengths (longer than 30cm)

 Lowest frequencies

 Used for broadcasting radio signals

Broadcasting Radio Signals:
 Radio stations encode sound information into
radio waves by varying either the wave’s
amplitude or their frequency (Modulation)

 AM vs. FM??

 AM = amplitude modulation

 FM = frequency modulation
Comparing AM & FM Radio Waves:
 AM radio waves have longer wavelengths; can
bounce off the atmosphere and travel farther
than FM waves

 FM radio waves are less affected by electrical

noise than AM; Music sound better from FM
than AM
Radio Waves & Television:
 Television signals are carried by radio waves

 Shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies

 Uses amplitude modulation (carry pictures)

and frequency modulation (carry sound)

 Signals are transmitted to artificial satellites

orbiting Earth; amplified and sent to ground
antennas; travel through cables to homes
Microwaves:
 Have shorter wavelengths & higher
frequencies than radio waves

 Wavelengths between 1mm and 30 cm

http://blog.buyvertureplica.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/cell-phone-radiation-spectrum-buyvertureplicacom.jpg
Microwaves & Communication:
 Used to send information over long distances

 Cellular phones use microwaves

 Signals between Earth and artificial satellites

in space also use microwaves
Radar:
 Microwaves are also used in radar

 Radar: radio detection and ranging

 Used to detect the speed and location of objects

 Radar gun sends out microwaves that reflect off of a

car and return to the gun (calculate speed)

 Used to watch the movement of airplanes and ships

Infrared Waves:
 Shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies than
microwaves

 Wavelengths between 700 nanometers and 1 mm

(1 nm = 0.000000001 m)

 Warmed by infrared waves from the sun

 Almost all things give off infrared waves

 Infrared binoculars can change infrared waves to

light
http://www.militaryinfrared.com/images/IR_0160.gif
Visible Light:
 Very narrow range of wavelengths with frequencies
humans can see

 Shorter wavelengths & higher frequencies than infrared

 Wavelengths between 400nm and 700nm

http://www.daviddarling.info/images/visible_light.gif
Visible Light from the Sun:
 Some of the energy from the sun that reaches
the Earth is visible light

 It is white light = visible light of all

wavelengths combined

 Light from lamps and fluorescent bulbs is

white light
Colors of Light:
 Humans see the different wavelengths of visible light
as different colors

 Longest wavelengths are red

 Shortest wavelengths are violet

 Visible spectrum: range of colors (ROYGBV)

Ultraviolet Light:
 Also produced by the sun

 Shorter wavelengths & higher frequencies

than visible light

 Wavelengths between 60nm and 400nm

UV – Bad Effects:
 Sunburn

 Skin cancer

 Wrinkles

 Damage to eyes

 Use sunscreen (SPF), sunglasses, hats, long-

sleeved shirts, pants – even on cloudy days
UV – Good Effects:
 UV lamps are used to kill bacteria on food and
surgical tools

 Small amounts of UV are beneficial to your

body – helps skin cells produce vitamin D

 Vitamin D helps the intestines absorb calcium

(teeth/bones)
X-Rays & Gamma Rays:
 Shortest wavelengths & highest frequencies

http://students.umf.maine.edu/~delanonh/images/4845f11eadc9a.jpg
X-Rays:
 Wavelengths between 0.001nm and 60nm

 Can pass through many materials

 Useful in the medical field

 Too much exposure can damage cells

 Also used as security devices in airports

Gamma Rays:
 Wavelengths shorter than 0.1nm

 Can penetrate most materials very easily

 Used to treat some forms of cancer

 Used to kill harmful bacteria in foods (meats, fresh fruits)