13.
0 ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
13.1 INTRODUCTION
Electromagnetic spectrum is a family or an array of electromagnetic waves arranged
according to their wavelengths or frequencies in the ascending or descending order.
Electromagnetic waves have some similar characteristics but have different wavelengths
and frequencies. They are produced by the movement of electrons in the materials. An E.M
wave is a wave consists of electric and magnetic field (force) vibrations/oscillations which
travel perpendicular to each other as well as the direction of the wave travel.
13.2 COMMON PROPERTIES OF E.M WAVES
All E.M waves do not need medium to travel through. They can all travel through a
vacuum.
They all travel at the same speed in space which is the speed of light in a vacuum (c =
3 x 108 m/s)
They are all progressive transverse waves. Therefore they exhibit interference,
diffraction, reflection and polarization.
They obey the wave equation
C= fλ
They can carry energy from one place to another and can be absorbed by matter and
cause heating and other effects.
*NB: The space occupied by each type of wave in the E.M spectrum is called a BAND.
13.3 COMPONENTS OF E.M SPECTRUM (E.M WAVES)
a) GAMMA RAYS
Source: nuclei of radioactive elements (e.g. cobalt-60) and cosmic rays
Wavelength: 10-12 m
Detectors: photographic film, cloud chamber, Geiger Muller tube
Properties: - very penetrating
-transmit more energy than x-rays
- ionize gases
Uses: -used in radiotherapy to treat cancer cells and destroy tumours inside the body
-used to find flaws in metals
-used to sterilize medical equipment & dressings
- used to irradiate food to kill germs in them
Side effects: - harmful to humans in excess; damage body cells(cause mutation and
cancer) and can cause sterility.
b) X-RAYS
Source: produced when high energy electrons are fired at a metal in x-ray tube.
Wavelength: 10-10 m
Detectors: photographic film, fluorescent screen
Properties:- very penetrating (but less than gamma rays)
-have high energy
- ionize gases
Uses: -used in radiography (to take x-ray pictures)
-used to kill cancer cells (cancer cells absorbs x-ray more readily than normal healthy
cells) and treat skin disorders.
Side efffects: - causes cancer
c) ULTRAVIOLET RAYS
Sources: - sun (U.V is the sun rays that gives suntan)
-Mercury vapour lamps – created by passing the current through mercury vapour
in fluorescent tubes
Wavelength: 10-8 m
Detectors: photographic film, fluorescent chemicals, photocells
Properties: -absorbed by glass
-causes suntan
-causes chemicals to fluorescence/glow
Uses: -kills bacteria
-produce vitamin D and melanin in the skin
-used to detect forgeries
Side effects: -causes sunburn or even skin cancer if in excess
-harmful to eyes
d) VISIBLE LIGHT/WHITE LIGHT
Sources: -sun, lamps and all luminous objects
Wavelength: 10-6 m
Properties: -is a mixture of different colours and can be split by a prism into the visible
spectrum.
-ocupies a small part of the spectrum but is the only component that can be
detected by human eyes
Detectors: eye, photographic film, photocells
Uses: useful for vision/sight
Used for photography
Useful in some chemical reactions, e.g. photosynthesis.
Side effects: too more exposure may lead to skin tan
e) INFRARED
Sources: sun, warm and hot objects (e.g. heters, grills, etc.), remote controllers
Wavelength: 10-4 m
Detectors: special photographic film, phototransistor, sensitive thermometer,
thermopile
Properties: All objects give out infrared radiation; the hotter the object is the more
radiation it gives out.
-causes heating when absorbed by matter
Uses: - used for heating and cooking
- used for photography through haze and fog and in dark
- used in remote controls
- night vision
- detecting warm and cool skin and tracing infection.
f) RADIO WAVES
Sources: microwave oven (microwaves)
-Tv and radio transmitters using electronic circuits and aerials
Wavelength: 1 cm – 1 km
Detectors: aerials connected to radio and tv sets, mobile (cellular) phones, satellite
dishes, radar
Properties: -They have the longest wavelengths and lowest frequencies.
Uses:
Microwaves: are high frequency radio waves (but have shortest wavelength
amongst radio waves). They are used in RADAR (Radio Detecting And Ranging) to
find the position of aeroplanes. Microwaves are also used for cooking- water
particles in food absorb the energy carried by microwaves.
UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and VHF (Very High Frequency) waves
UHF- used in tv transmissions
VHF- used in local radio transmissions
Short, Medium and long radio waves:
Medium and long waves are used to transmit over long distances because their
wavelengths allow them to diffract around obstacles such as buildings, hills, etc.
Communication satellites above Earth receive signals carried by high frequency
short waves.
These signals are amplified and re-transmitted to other parts of the world.
