The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The Electromagnetic SpectrumThe Electromagnetic SpectrumThe EM spectrum is the ENTIRE range of EM waves in The EM spectrum is the ENTIRE range of EM waves in order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength.order of increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength.

As you go from As you go from left left right right, the , the wavelengths get smaller wavelengths get smaller and the and the frequencies get higherfrequencies get higher. This is an . This is an inverseinverse relationshiprelationship between wave between wave size and frequency. size and frequency. (As one goes up, the other goes down.)(As one goes up, the other goes down.) This is because the This is because the speed of ALL EM waves is the speed of light (300,000 km/s).speed of ALL EM waves is the speed of light (300,000 km/s).

Things to RememberThings to RememberThe higher the frequency, the more energy the The higher the frequency, the more energy the wave has.wave has.

EM waves EM waves do not require media do not require media in which to travel in which to travel or move.or move.

EM waves are considered to be EM waves are considered to be transverse waves transverse waves because they are made of vibrating electric and because they are made of vibrating electric and magnetic fields at right angles to each other, and to magnetic fields at right angles to each other, and to the direction the waves are traveling.the direction the waves are traveling.

Inverse relationship between wave size and frequency: as wavelengths get smaller, frequencies get higher.

Radio wavesRadio waves: Have the longest wavelengths and : Have the longest wavelengths and the lowest frequencies; wavelengths range the lowest frequencies; wavelengths range from 1000s of meters to .001 mfrom 1000s of meters to .001 m

Used in: RADAR, cooking food, satellite Used in: RADAR, cooking food, satellite transmissionstransmissions

The Waves (in order…)The Waves (in order…)

Infrared waves Infrared waves (heat): Have a shorter wavelength, (heat): Have a shorter wavelength, from .001 m to 700 nm, and therefore, a higher from .001 m to 700 nm, and therefore, a higher frequency.frequency.

Used for finding people in the dark and in TV Used for finding people in the dark and in TV remote control devicesremote control devices

Visible lightVisible light: Wavelengths range from 700 nm (red : Wavelengths range from 700 nm (red light) to 30 nm (violet light) with frequencies light) to 30 nm (violet light) with frequencies higher than infrared waves.higher than infrared waves.

These are the waves in the These are the waves in the EM spectrum that humansEM spectrum that humanscan see.can see.

Visible light waves are a very Visible light waves are a very small part of the EM spectrum!small part of the EM spectrum!

ROY G. BVROY G. BV

redred

orangeorange

yellowyellow

greengreen

blueblue

violetviolet

Visible LightVisible Light

Remembering the OrderRemembering the Order

Ultraviolet LightUltraviolet Light: Wavelengths: Wavelengths range from 400 nm to 10 nm; the frequency (and therefore the energy) is high enough with UV rays to penetrate living cells and cause them damage.

Although we cannot see UV light, bees, bats, butterflies, some small rodents and birds can.

UV on our skin produces vitamin D in our bodies. Too much UV can lead to sunburn and skin cancer. UV rays are easily blocked by clothing.

Used for sterilization because they kill bacteria.

X-RaysX-Rays: Wavelengths from 10 nm to .001 nm. : Wavelengths from 10 nm to .001 nm. These rays have enough energy to penetrate These rays have enough energy to penetrate deep into tissues and cause damage to cells; deep into tissues and cause damage to cells; are stopped by dense materials, such as bone.are stopped by dense materials, such as bone.

Used to look at solid structures, such as bones and Used to look at solid structures, such as bones and bridges (for cracks), and for treatment of cancer.bridges (for cracks), and for treatment of cancer.

Gamma RaysGamma Rays: Carry the most energy and have : Carry the most energy and have the shortest wavelengths, less than one the shortest wavelengths, less than one trillionth of a meter (10trillionth of a meter (10-12-12). ).

Gamma rays have enough energy to go through Gamma rays have enough energy to go through most materials easily; you would need a 3-4 ft thick most materials easily; you would need a 3-4 ft thick concrete wall to stop them!concrete wall to stop them!

Gamma rays are released Gamma rays are released by nuclear reactions in by nuclear reactions in nuclear power plants, by nuclear power plants, by nuclear bombs, and by nuclear bombs, and by naturally occurring naturally occurring elements on Earth.elements on Earth.

Sometimes used in the Sometimes used in the treatment of cancers.treatment of cancers.

Gamma RaysGamma Rays

This picture is a This picture is a “scintigram” “scintigram” It shows an asthmatic It shows an asthmatic person’s lungs.person’s lungs.

The patient was given a slightly radioactive gas to The patient was given a slightly radioactive gas to breath, and the picture was taken using a gamma breath, and the picture was taken using a gamma camera to detect the radiation. camera to detect the radiation.

The colors show the air flow in the lungs.The colors show the air flow in the lungs.

Micro Worlds, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. http://www.lbl.gov/MicroWorlds/ALSTool/EMSpec/EMSpec2.html

Image SourcesImage Sources

NASA http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/blue-sky/

NASA http://science-edu.larc.nasa.gov/EDDOCS/Wavelengths_for_Colors.html

NASA http://missionscience.nasa.gov/ems/11_xrays.html

Andy Darvill, Broadoak Community School, Radioactivity Uses

http://www.northallertoncoll.org.uk/science/Additional%20Physics/Nuclear/Nuclear/Radioactivity/uses.htm

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