Electromagnetic

Spectrum
Radio Waves and Microwaves
Electromagnetic
Spectrum
 Radio Waves
• Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation, as are
microwaves, infrared radiation, X-rays and gamma-rays.
The best-known use of radio waves is for communication;
television, cellphones and radios all receive radio waves
and convert them to mechanical vibrations in the speaker to
create sound waves that can be heard.
• Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the EM
spectrum, according to NASA, ranging from about 1
millimeter (0.04 inches) to more than 100 kilometers (62
miles). They also have the lowest frequencies, from about
3,000 cycles per second or 3 kilohertz (kHz) up to about
300 billion hertz, or 300 gigahertz (GHz).
 Radio waves are classified
into:
• Long wave
• Medium wave
• Very High Frequency waves
• Ultra High Frequency waves
Classification of Radio Waves
Long wave
• Has a wavelength of 1 to 2 km

Medium wave
• Has a wavelength of around 100m
• Used in Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• Frequency range between 550 kHz to 1600 kHz
Classification of Radio Waves
Very High Frequency waves
• Frequency of 88 to 108 gHz
• Has a wavelength of 2 m
• Used by frequency modulated radio stations

Ultra High Frequency waves

• communication appliances. Have wavelengths less than a meter
• Used for television broadcasting, Cordless phones, walkie-talkie
,police radio communication and other radio
 Disadvantages of Radio
Waves
• Too much exposure to radio waves can cause serious diseases.
• Prolonged exposure to high frequency radio waves can cause
cancerous cell growth. As opposed to low frequency radio
waves which will not cause any harm despite exposure
• Ways to avoid these circumstances is to keep away from the
proximity of these high frequency waves. Low frequency waves
despite being harmless increases the chance of cancer growth
as seen in a laboratory experiment using human flesh. Avoid
using communication devices such as cellphones while near the
ear.
 Microwaves
• Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic radiation, as are
radio waves, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma-rays.
Microwaves have a range of applications, including
communications, radar and, perhaps best known by most
people, cooking.
• Microwaves have frequencies ranging from about 3 billion
cycles per second, or 3 gigahertz (GHz), up to about 30 trillion
hertz (terahertz or THz) and wavelengths of about 30
centimeters (12 inches) to 3 millimeters (0.12 inches), although
these values are not definitive. This region is further divided into
a number of bands, designated as L, S, C, X and K.
 Uses of Microwaves
• Microwaves are basically extremely high frequency
radio waves, and are made by various types of
transmitter.
• In a mobile phone, they're made by a transmitter chip
and an antenna, in a microwave oven they're made by a
"magnetron".
• Their wavelength is usually a couple of centimeters.
Stars also give off microwaves.
 Uses of Microwaves
• Microwaves are commonly used in communications
especially satellites it is also used in mobile phones,
radars, navigations, as well as WIFI
• Microwaves pass through the different layers of Earth’s
atmosphere that’s why it is mostly used by satellites and
other space stations.
 Disadvantages and Dangers of
Microwaves
• The same as Radio waves too much exposure in Microwaves
can also cause deadly and dangerous diseases.
• Most common disease when exposed too much is cataract, it is
clouding the lenses of your eyes which cause your vision to be
blurry.
• Because Microwaves can be reflected and absorbed
microwaves can also be absorbed by our body and by this, this
increases our temperature and also it can cause dangers to our
brain.
Ways to avoid harmful effects of
Microwaves
• Avoid staying near your microwave oven to check your food if
it’s cooked.
• Avoid having long calls
• Avoid placing your cellphone near or beside your head when
sleeping.
• For young children avoid over usage of electronic appliances
because your brain is still growing and it might affect it when
exposed too much.
 Summary
• Radio waves and Microwaves