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Ze Electromagnetic Spectrum. By Will B. Electromagnetic waves. The different waves that make up the electromagnetic spectrum are as follows in order of increasing frequency; Radio -> Microwave -> Infrared -> Light -> Ultraviolet -> X-ray -> Gamma.
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Ze Electromagnetic Spectrum By Will B
Electromagnetic waves • The different waves that make up the electromagnetic spectrum are as follows in order of increasing frequency; • Radio -> Microwave -> Infrared -> Light -> Ultraviolet -> X-ray -> Gamma. • All these waves can travel through a vacuum. • They are also all transverse waves.
Radio Waves • Has a frequency of 103– 1012Hertz • Has a wavelength of 105 – 10-4 • Radio waves will be reflected and refracted by the ionosphere as it is electrically charged. • Radio waves main uses are radio and television broadcasts. • Radio waves can produce a chosen • frequency, so they won’t interfere with other radio waves. • This allows for more than one radio station to broadcast in an area.
Microwaves • Have a frequency of 103 to 1012 hertz • Have a wavelength of 105 to 10-4 metres • Microwaves are not reflected by the ionosphere and so are used for communications with satellites. • Microwaves have shorter wavelengths, this makes them ideal for handheld communication devices such as mobile phones.
Infrared • Has a frequency of 1011 to 1013 hertz • Has a wavelength of 10-3 to 10-5 • They use total internal reflection to be carried along optical fibres. • They are responsible for heat radiation, when you feel warmth from a bonfire, it is because infrared waves carry the heat. • Infrared waves are also used in toasters and grills to cook food.
Visible light • Human eyes can detect electromagnetic wavelengths from about 400nm (violet) to 700nm (red). • Visible light can be totally internally reflected within glass. • This allows images to be transported directly from one place to another.
Ultraviolet • Has a frequency ranging from 7.5 x 1014 to 3 x 1016 hertz. • Has a wavelength 10-6 to 10-9 • Some ultraviolet waves are used in the treatment of sewage to kill bacteria. • To much exposure to ultraviolet waves can cause sunburn in humans.
X-rays • Has a frequency of 1015 to 1020 • Has a wavelength of 10-7 to 10-12 • Very high energy electromagnetic waves can be produced by colliding high speed electrons with a metal target. When these electrons decelerate rapidly, they give off energy as x-rays.
Gamma • Has a frequency of 1017 to 1024 • Has a wavelength of 10-9 to 10-16 • Generated by energy shifts inside the nuclei of atoms, gamma rays form the very highest energy EM waves. • Used to sterilise surgical instruments • Gamma rays can be used to kill cancerous cells in the body.