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Electromagnetic Waves

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

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20 views11 pages

Electromagnetic Waves

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

Uploaded by

gnana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Electromagnetic waves

INDEX

1)Introduction of EM Waves

2) Types of EM Waves

3) Electromagnetic spectrum

4) Characteristics of EM Waves

5) Uses of EM Waves

6) Bibliography
INTRODUCTION OF EM WAVES:

James Clerk Maxwell introduced a set of 20


equations, with which he explained electromagnetic waves.
He understood that electric and magnetic fields, which
change by time form a electromagnetic field. The
electromagnetic field would then move like a wave, which he
called electromagnetic wave.

What are EM Waves?


• EM waves are waves that are created as a result of vibrations
between an electric field and a magnetic field. In other words,
EM waves are composed of oscillating magnetic and electric
fields.

• Electromagnetic waves differ from mechanical waves in that


they do not require a medium to propagate.

• This means that electromagnetic waves can travel not only


through air and solid, materials, but also through the vacuum
of space.
How are electromagnetic waves generated?

Electromagnetic waves are created by oscillating charges (which


radiate whenever accelerated) and have the same frequency as the
oscillation. Since the electric and magnetic fields in most
electromagnetic waves are perpendicular to the direction in which
the wave moves, it is ordinarily transverse wave.

The source of all electromagnetic waves are:

One or more electrons within the atom move as a result of the


absorbed energy. Electromagnetic waves are made up of a sinusoidal
change of the electric and magnetic fields that are at right angles to
each other and the wave propagation direction.
Type of EM waves:
Radio Waves
• Radio waves are low-frequency electromagnetic waves.
• It is present at the start of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• EM waves with longer wavelengths have the lowest
frequency and consequently the lowest energy.
• Radio waves have many practical applications like media
broadcasting, wireless communication, radio telescopes, etc.

Microwaves
• The microwave is a type of electromagnetic wave with
wavelengths within the range of one metre to one millimetre
• Its corresponding frequencies range from 300 MHz to 300
GHz, respectively.
• Microwaves are extensively used in wireless networks,
satellite and spacecraft communications, microwave radio
relay networks, medical treatment etc.

Infrared Waves
• An infrared wave or IR radiation is a region of the
electromagnetic spectrum where wavelengths range from
about 700 nanometres to 1 millimetre.
• Infrared waves are much longer wavelengths than those of
visible light but shorter wavelengths than those of radio
waves.
• They are used to detect, locate and view bodies in space.
Infrared waves allow us to track and monitor the Earth’s
temperature patterns.
• They are also used for thermal imaging and the most remote
controls of digital devices.
Ultraviolet (UV) Waves
• Ultraviolet waves are electromagnetic waves with
wavelengths ranging from 10 nm (30 PHz) to 400 nm (750
THz). They are much shorter than visible light and longer
than X-rays.
• UV waves are present in sunlight. They also constitute
around 10% of the total EM radiation emanating from the
Sun.
• Ultraviolet waves have a shorter wavelength and greater
energy.
• They are placed on the higher frequency spectrum end.
• Ultraviolet light could damage or harm the skin as it might
cause sunburn and even affect the human DNA.
X-Rays
• X-ray or X-radiation is a high-energy form of
electromagnetic radiation. Generally, they have a
wavelength extending from 10 picometers to 10 nanometres
with respective frequencies ranging from 30 petahertz to 30
exahertz. The inherent energy ranges from 145eV to 124
keV. X-rays wavelengths are much shorter than Uv radiation
and usually longer than those of gamma radiation.
• The body temperature influences X-ray wavelength. Hotter
the body, the shorter the wavelengths.
• They are famous for their application in medical imaging.
They are used to produce sharp monotone images of objects
on X-ray films. Images are formed when X-ray radiations
are shot through a body part.
• X-radiations can be dangerous when living beings are
subjected to excessive exposure. This is the reason why
patients wear protective gear while going through an X-ray
machine.
Gamma Rays
• A gamma-ray (gamma radiation) is a piercing type of
electromagnetic radiation emanating from the radioactive
disintegration of subatomic nuclei.
• It is made of the shortest wavelength EM waves, with
frequencies above 30 exahertz.
• It is placed at the end of the spectrum. Gamma-ray has the
highest energy frequency.
• Due to these characteristics, gamma radiations are the most
powerful EM waves.
• Gamma radiations are produced from nuclear reactions,
nuclear decays, stellar explosions, etc

\
Electromagnetic Spectrum:
What is an Electromagnetic Spectrum?

Consider the electromagnetic spectrum as a wide cosmic highway


that facilitates the movement of various kinds of light. There is a
vast spectrum of energy waves present in this, ranging from
extremely short waves like X-rays to long, languid waves like
radio broadcasts. This spectrum extends beyond the light that our
eyes can detect.
• The tiny portion of light that we can see, known as visible
light, which includes every colour in the rainbow, is located
exactly in the middle of this enormous spectrum. But there’s
so much more to it than that.
• On one extreme are the incredibly small and intense gamma
and X-rays, which are employed in medicine to view the
body and can penetrate through solid objects. The radio
waves, on the other hand, are like the long, slow waves that
carry your favourite radio station’s music through the air to
your radio.
Electromagnetic Spectrum Definition
• The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the range of all types
of electromagnetic radiation, which is energy that disperses
and expands as it travels. This includes everything from the
visible light emitted by a household lamp to the radio waves
broadcast by radio stations, illustrating the diverse forms of
electromagnetic radiation.
Characteristics of EM waves

• They do not require a medium for propagation.


• They propagate in vacuum with a speed of 3.0 × 10 8 m s .
• EM waves are transverse in nature.
• They are not deflected by electric and magnetic fields.
• EM waves get polarized.
• They carry energy and momentum.

•
Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
It is important that you are able to explain why each type of EM
wave is suitable for the practical application. Since each part of the
EM spectrum has different wavelengths, frequencies and energies
it allows them to have different uses or functions. All of the uses
or functions depend on the how well the receiving end can absorb,
reflect, transmit or refract the wave. Cooking food is to do with
absorption whereas fibre optic communications is reflection.

• Different parts of the EM spectrum have different uses:

1) Radio waves - radio and television


2) Microwaves - satellite communications and cooking food
3) Infrared - Electrical heaters, cooking food and infrared
cameras
4) Visible light - Fibre optic communications
5) Ultraviolet - Energy efficient lamps, sun tanning
6) X-rays - Medical imaging and treatments
7) Gamma rays - Medical imaging and treatments

Bibliography

1) NCERT
2) www.byju’s.com
3) GOOGLE

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