SAVVAS SCIENCE:

8.4:
ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES
Elevate Science Modules
TOPIC:
ELECTROMAGNETI
C WAVES
 OBJECTIVE:
I can...
• define and illustrate electromagnetic waves
• compare electromagnetic waves on the
spectrum and differentiated betwen them
 DISCUSS:

What do you remember about waves?

 DISCUSS:

Which type of waves are sound waves?

 DISCUSS:
Which type of waves are sound waves?

Mechanical, Longitudinal
 DISCUSS:

Which type of waves are light waves?

 DISCUSS:
Which type of waves are light waves?

Electromagnetic
 TYPES OF WAVES:
Mechanical:
• Travel through matter
• Transport energy

Transverse: Longitudinal:
 TYPES OF WAVES:
Electromagnetic: Surface:
• Visual light, infrared light, • Ocean waves and seismic waves
ultraviolet (UV) light, radio • DO need a medium
waves, etc.
• DON’T need a medium
 VOCABULARY
• Electromagnetic Wave • Ultraviolet Rays
• Electromagnetic Spectrum • Infrared Rays
• Radio Waves • X-Rays
• Microwaves • Gamma Rays
• Visible Light
ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
A wave made of a mixture of changing electric
and magnetic fields
Real life application:
Radar utilizes electromagnetic waves.
What are some other everyday items
which use electromagnetic waves?
 • Radios
Radar utilizes electromagnetic waves. • Computers
What are some other everyday items • Phones
which use electromagnetic waves? • Light bulbs
• Microwaves
• Speakers
• Toasters
• Ovens
• Electric
Radiators
 What is Electromagnetic Radiation?
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy. It includes energy sources that we use
in our day-to-day life. These include:
• Microwaves
• Light
• X-rays
• UV rays Remember:
• Radio waves Energy is the ability
to do work.
• Infrared waves
 The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies and wavelengths of
electromagnetic energy. The largest waves are radio waves that are as tall as
buildings and the smallest waves are gamma rays that are smaller than an atom.

Wavelength

103m 10-1m 10-5m 5 x 10-6m 10-8m 10-10m 10-12m

Radio Microwave Infrared Visible Ultraviolet X-ray Gamma

light Ray
MICROWAVES
Waves with greater wavelengths and higher frequencies than radio
waves
 Microwaves
The microwave oven that we have in our homes is named after the type of
electromagnetic wave that it uses. Microwaves are generally between 1mm and
30cm. The most common use of microwaves are in microwave ovens. The wave
causes the water molecules in the food to vibrate, this in turn heats the food.
Like radio waves, microwaves are also used in communication but on a smaller scale.
For example, microwaves are used in RADAR systems. When a microwave is pointed
at an object, such as a car, the microwaves are reflected by the metal surface. The
device then records the amount of time it takes for the wave to travel back to the
receiver.
RADIO WAVES
Electromagnetic (EM) Waves with the greatest wavelength and lowest frequency
 Radio Waves
Radio waves are most commonly used for communication as they
are large and can travel great distances. A radio wave is generated
by a transmitter and then detected by a receiver. Devices that use
radio waves have an antenna to pick up the wave. The most
common uses of radio waves are radio and television.
 VISIBLE LIGHT
EM radiation which can be seen by the
unaided eye, without instruments
 Visible Light
Visible light is the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see with our
eyes. When light interacts with an object, some of it is reflected. Out eyes in turn are
able to detect this part of the wavelength and send a signal to our brains to process.
The size of the wave is how the colour of objects are determined, red light has larger
wavelengths whereas purple light has shorter wavelengths. When a light ray touches
an object, only waves that are reflected from the object reach our eyes, consequently
we only see that colour.
 ULTRAVIOLET RAYS

Electromagnetic waves shorter than visible

light but longer than X-Rays
 Ultraviolet Light
The waves of ultraviolet light, also known as UV light, are too small for humans to
see, however, animals such as bees have the ability to see these waves. Most UV light
is absorbed by the atmosphere and is dangerous to humans in large amounts. For
example, overexposure to UV light can cause sunburn and mutate the DNA in skin
cells, which can lead to the formation of skin cancers. Wearing sunscreen blocks the
UV waves from touching the skin and prevent this from occurring. UV light is also
used in sterilisation as it has the ability to kill bacteria.
 INFRARED RAYS
Electromagnetic waves with shorter
wavelengths and higher frequencies than
microwaves
 Infrared

Infrared waves are larger than the waves of light

that are visible to the human eye. Although we
cannot see infrared waves, we can sense the
heat that they emit. Infrared waves are utilised in
various technologies such as night vision glasses,
some heaters and infrared cameras, which can
detect warmth. The warmer an object is, the
easier it is to be picked up by the camera.
Additionally, infrared waves can be used for
communication between nearby devices, for
instance, TV remotes use infrared to change
channels.
X-RAYS
Electromagnetic waves with
shorter wavelengths than
ultraviolet rays but longer than
gammas rays
 X-Rays
X-rays are so small that they can move through objects easily. The most common
use of x-rays is in medical fields for viewing the inside of the body. An x-ray sensitive
film is placed behind the patient and the x-rays are passed through the body. Only
the shadows of the bones show up on the film as they are more dense than skin and
tissue. This technique allows doctors to determine damage to the bones and also to
find foreign objects.
GAMMA RAYS
Electromagnetic waves with
the shortest wavelengths and
the highest frequencies
 Gamma Rays

Gamma rays have the smallest

wavelength known to man and have
incredibly large amounts of energy.
They are produced by neutron stars
and supernova explosions, while on
Earth they are produced by nuclear
explosions and lightning. Gamma rays
are incredibly dangerous to human
life as they are small enough to
damage DNA.
 TRAVELLING
WAVES
Like tennis balls, waves can travel through some
mediums but not others. When waves cannot travel
through mediums, they reflect (like a tennis ball
against the wall). When they can travel through,
but slowly, waves refract. When they can travel
though without issue, waves are absorbed. When a
tennis ball is thrown, it is like a wave being
transmitted.
 EM WAVES
Recall that “radiation” does not mean
“radioactive”. Instead, “radiation“ refers to
anything giving off energy., especially
electromagnetic energy.

Electromagnetic energy comes from

electric and magnetic fields, produced by
the movement of charged particles.
 EM WAVES

EM waves are all transverse waves, the

first waves we learned about.

EM waves DO NOT need a medium, so

they can travel through vacuums, such as
space.
 DISCUSS:

What travels in waves?

 DISCUSS:
What travels in waves?

Energy
 DISCUSS:

What is a medium?
 DISCUSS:
What is a medium?

A solid, liquid, or gas energy can travel

through
 WAVELENGTH
The EM Spectrum goes from shortest
to longest wavelength.

Wavelength is represented in
Chemistry and Physics by the Greek
letter lambda (shown to the right).
 FREQUENCY

The EM Spectrum goes from lowest

to highest frequencies.

Frequency is represented in Chemistry

and Physics by the variable f.
 VELOCITY

Velocity is the speed of a wave in a

certain direction.

Velocity is represented in Chemistry,

Physics, and Calculus by the variable
v.
REFLECTED SOUND WAVES

• Reflect off of surface sound waves cannot (or

mostly cannot) pass through
• Reflect off of harder surfaces, such as metal,
glass, and concrete
ABSORBED SOUND WAVES

• Absorbed by surface which (usually) convert

mechanical energy into thermal energy
• Absorbed by soft, pliable (bendable), porous (with
holes) materials such as water, cloth, and foam
PRACTICE!
You can remember the EM Spectrum
using a mnemonic device.

Create a sentence with words starting

with the letters:

RMIVUXG
LET’S SUM TH
INGS UP!