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EM Waves

The document discusses the electromagnetic spectrum, dividing it into seven regions: radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays. For each region, it provides the wavelength range, frequency range, discovery, properties, and common uses.

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Vansh Singhai
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45 views3 pages

EM Waves

The document discusses the electromagnetic spectrum, dividing it into seven regions: radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays. For each region, it provides the wavelength range, frequency range, discovery, properties, and common uses.

Uploaded by

Vansh Singhai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics XII: Akash Kr. Singh Mno.

9560253212 Chapter-8

Electromagnetic waves –II


Electromagnetic spectrum
 The Orderly distribution of the electromagnetic waves in accordance with their wavelength or
frequency into distinct groups having widely different properties is called electromagnetic spectrum.
Regions of electromagnetic spectrum
1. Radio Waves.
These are the e.m.waves of longest wavelength and minimum frequency.
Wavelength Range 600 m to 0.1m
Frequency Range 500kHz to 1000MHz
Source of production Accelerated motion of charges in conducting wires
or oscillating circuits.
Discovered by Marconi in 1895
Properties Reflection , diffraction
Uses of radio waves:
(i) In radio and television communication systems.
(ii) In radioastronomy.

2. Microwaves
They are the e.m. waves having wavelength next smaller to radiowaves.
Wavelength Range 0.3m to 10-3 m
Frequency Range 109 Hz to 1012 Hz
Source of production Oscillating currents in special vacuum tubes like
Klystron, magnetrons and Gunn diodes.
Discovered by Marconi in 1895
Properties 1. Reflection, Refraction, diffraction and
polarisation.
2. Due to their shorter wavelengths, they can travel
as a beam in a signal.
Uses of Microwaves:
(i) In radar system for aircraft navigation.
(ii) In long distance communication system via geostationary satellites.
(iii) In microwave ovens.
Note : Microwave ovens are an interesting domestic application of these waves. In such ovens, the
frequency of the microwaves is selected to match the resonant frequency of water molecules so that
energy from the waves is transferred efficiently to the kinetic energy of the molecules. This raises the
temperature of any food containing water.
3. Infrared waves
 These radiations lie close to the low-frequency or long-wavelength of the visible spectrum.
 Infrared waves produce heating effect, So they are also called as heat waves and thermal radiations.
 The water molecules (and also CO2, NH3 molecules) present in different materials readily absorb
infrared waves, increase the thermal motions and hence heat up the materials and surroundings.
Wavelength Range
Frequency Range 1011 Hz to Hz
Source of production Hot bodies and Molecules.
Physics XII: Akash Kr. Singh Mno.9560253212 Chapter-8

Discovered by William Herschel in 1800


Properties Heating effect, reflection, refraction, diffraction and
propagation through fog.
Uses of Infrared Waves:
(i) In the remote control of a TV or VCR, the keypad of which contains a small infrared transmitter.
(ii) In green houses to keep the plants warm.
(iii) In haze photography because infrared waves are less scattered than visible light by atmospheric
particles.
(iv) Infrared lamps in the treatment of muscular complaints.
(v) In reading the secret writing on the ancient walls.
(vi) In knowing the molecular structure.

4. Visible light.
 It is a very small part of the e.m. spectrum towards which the human retina is sensitive.
 The visible light emitted or reflected from bodies around us gives information about the world.
Wavelength Range
Frequency Range
Source of production Radiated by excited atoms in ionised gas and
incandescent bodies.
Properties Reflection ,refraction, interference, diffraction,
polarisation, photoelectric effect, photographic
action, sensation of sight.
Uses of Visible light:
(i) It provides us the information of the world around us.
(ii) It can cause chemical reaction.

5. Ultraviolet light
 The region of the e.m. spectrum has wavelengths just shorter than visible light and can be detected
just beyond the violet end of the solar spectrum.
Wavelength Range
Frequency Range
Source of production High voltage gas discharge tubes, arcs of iron and
mercury, the sun.
Discovered by Ritter in 1800
Properties Effect on photographic plate, fluorescence,
ionisation, highly energetic, tanning of the human
skin.
Uses of Ultraviolet light:
(i) In food preservation.
(ii) In the study of invisible writings, forged documents and finger prints.
(iii) In the study of molecular structure.
(iv) Welders wear special glass goggles or face masks with glass windows to protect their eyes from large
amount of UV produced by welding arcs.
(v)Due to its shorter wavelengths, UV radiations can be focussed into very narrow beams for high precision
applications such as LASIK (Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery.
(vi) UV lamps are used to kill germs in water purifiers.

6. X- rays.
Physics XII: Akash Kr. Singh Mno.9560253212 Chapter-8

 These e.m. waves have wavelengths just shorter than UV light.


 As X-rays can pass through many forms of matter, so they have many useful medical and industrial
application.
Wavelength Range
Frequency Range
Source of production Sudden deceleration of fast moving electrons by a
metal target.
Discovered by Rontgen in 1895
Properties Effect on photographic plate, ionisation of gases,
photoelectric effect, fluorescence, more energetic
than UV rays.
Uses Of X-rays:
(i) In medical diagnosis because X-rays can pass through flesh but not through bones.
(ii) In the study of crystal structure because X-rays can be reflected and diffracted by crystals.
(iii) In engineering for detecting faults, Cracks, flaws and holes in the finished metal products.
(iv) In detective department to detect explosives, diamonds, gold etc. in the possessions of smugglers.
(v) In radiotherapy to cure untraceable skin diseases and malignant growths.

7. Gamma rays.
 These are e.m. radiations of highest frequency range and lowest wavelength range.
 These are MOST PENETRATING e.m. waves.
Wavelength Range
Frequency Range
Source of production Radioactive nuclei and nuclear reactions.
Co-60 is a pure ϒ-ray souce.
Discovered by Henry Becquerel in 1896
Properties Effect on photographic plate, fluorescence,
ionisation, diffraction, high penetrating power.
Uses of ϒ-rays:
1. In radiotherapy for the treatment of malignant tumours.
2. In the manufacture of polythene from ethylene.
3. To initiate some nuclear reactions.
4. To preserve food stuff for a long time because soft ϒ-rays can kill microorganisms.
5. To study the structure of atomic nuclei.

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