Waves and the

Electromagnetic Spectrum
 Electromagnetic Waves
 An electromagnetic (EM) wave is made up
of vibrating electric and magnetic fields
that move through space or some media at
the speed of light.
 Speed of light: 299,792 km/sec)
 Electromagnetic Waves
 EM waves begin with the movement of
charged particles
 As the speed or direction changes an electric
field is created, this also produces a magnetic
field.
 Electromagnetic Waves
 The electric and magnetic fields produce
each other repeatedly and vibrate at right
angles to one another
 Energy that is transferred by an EM wave is
called electromagnetic radiation
 Electromagnetic Waves
 Although all electromagnetic waves travel
at the same speed, they do not all have the
same wavelength and frequency
 Electromagnetic Waves
 The electromagnetic spectrum is the range
of all electromagnetic waves
Electromagnetic Spectrum
 Electromagnetic Waves
 Radio waves
 Longest wavelength
 lowest frequency
 Used in radio broadcasting.
 Electromagnetic Waves
 Microwaves
 Shorter wavelength/higher frequency than
radio waves
 Used for microwaves, cell phones
and radar
 Electromagnetic Waves
 Infrared waves
 More energy than microwaves
 You feel the energy of an infrared ray as heat
 Cafeterias use infrared rays to keep food
warm
 Infrared cameras use infrared rays
to take pictures called thermograms
 Electromagnetic Waves
 Visible light waves
 EM waves that can be detected by our eyes
 Only make up a small portion of the EM
spectrum
 Together they appear white but actually a
mixture of colors
 Electromagnetic Waves
 Visible light wavelengths range from 700nm
to 400nm
 The colors in order from longest to shortest
wavelength (700 to 400) are ROY G BIV
 Red
 Orange
 Yellow
 Green
 Blue
 Indigo
 Violet
 Electromagnetic Waves
 Ultraviolet waves
 EM waves become dangerous at this level
 Sunscreen can help protect against the UV
waves from the Sun
 Cause skin cells to produce vitamin D, which is
needed for healthy teeth and bones
 Electromagnetic Waves
 X-Rays
 Dense matter, such as bones, absorb x-rays
 Used in the medical field to obtain images of
bones and teeth
 X-rays are also used by engineers to determine
if there are cracks in steel or concrete
structures.
 Electromagnetic Waves
 Gamma rays
 Shortest wavelength, highest frequency
 Used in the medical field to examine internal
structures of the body treating tumors
 Nuclear reactions produce gamma rays and
some objects in space emit gamma ray bursts
 Electromagnetic Waves
 All of the electromagnetic waves together
make up the electromagnetic spectrum