Post on 26-Mar-2015
Waves and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Ch. 17
What is an electromagnetic wave?
• A transverse wave
• A wave that consists of vibrating electric and magnetic fields that move through space at the speed of light.
How are they produced?
• By charged particles being pushed or pulled toward or away from other charged ( + or - ) particles creating the magnetic field.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Is a complete range of electromagnetic waves placed in order of increasing frequencies.
• Electromagnetic waves have different wavelengths and different frequencies.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Made up of the following waves and rays
1. Radio waves
2. Microwaves
3. Infrared rays
4. Visible light
5. Ultraviolet light rays
6. X-rays
7. Gamma rays
• Long wavelength and low frequency, left side, slow
• Short wavelength and high frequency, right side, fast
• Frequency – the number of complete waves that pass through a given point in a certain amount of time.
• Wavelength – how long or short one wave is.