ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

• Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves which result from oscillating electric and
magnetic fields at right angles to each other.
• Light, radio, X-rays, ultraviolet, infrared gamma rays etc are electromagnetic waves.
• When these waves are arranged in order of wavelengths or frequencies, they form the
electromagnetic spectrum. The wavelengths range from about 1.0 × 106 m to 1.0 × 10–14 m.

Electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing frequency

 Roasted → Radio waves
 Maize → Microwaves
 Is → Infrared
 Very → Visible light
 Unusual → Ultraviolet rays
 X-mas → X-rays
 Gift → Gamma rays

Visible light in order of increasing frequency

 Richard → Red
 Of → Orange
 York →Yellow
 Gave → Green
 Battle → Blue
 In → Indigo
 Vain → Violet

Properties of Electromagnetic Waves

• Although some electromagnetic waves differ greatly in their wavelengths and effects, they all
have the following properties:
(i) They travel through space (vacuum) with the speed of light (3.0 × 108 ms–1).
(ii) They do not require a medium for transmission.
(iii) They are transverse waves in nature.
(iv) They undergo interference, reflection, diffraction, refraction and polarisation effects.
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(v) They possess energy in different amounts, according to the relation E = hf, where h is
planck’s constant (6.63 × 10–34 Js) and f the frequency of the wave.
(vi) They obey the wave equation c = fλ
(vii) They carry no charge; hence they are not affected by electric or magnetic fields.

Production, Detection and Uses of Electromagnetic Waves

Radiation Produced by: Detected by: Application

 Emitted by  photographic In medicine;

Gamma rays radioactive plates
• for sterilizing medical
substances  radiation
equipment
detectors, e.g.,
the G-M tube • killing cancerous and
other malignant growths
in the body.

In industries;

• to detect flaws in
metals.

 produced in X-ray  fluorescent In medicine:

X-Rays tubes. screen
• for photography
 photographic
(radiography),
film.
• Cancer
therapy, irradiation of
germs.

In Crystallography:

• to study crystal lattice.

In industries;

• To detect flaws in
metals and forgeries in
art.

produced by: detected by; • Spectroscopy and

Ultraviolet mineral analysis;
Radiation  the sun,  photographic • to detect forgeries.
 sparks and films
 mercury vapour  photocells, In medicine;
lamps  fluorescent • to kill bacteria,
materials (e.g., • in skin treatment;
quinine sulphate) • source of vitamin D.
 paper lightly
smeared with In food technology,
Vaseline. • to detect the freshness
of an egg.

In industry,

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• it is used with
photocells

 The sun,  eye • Enables the eye to see,

Visible Light  hot objects,  photographic • it is used in ordinary
 lamps and film and photography,
 laser beams.  photocell. • optical fibres and
• laser beams.

Produced by:  The skin, • cooking, heating and

Infrared  a thermopile, drying.
radiation  the sun,  bolometer and • In agriculture to warm
 fires or any hot  thermometer greenhouses,
body. with blackened • Also used in infrared
bulb. photography and
• heat-seeking missiles.

 special vacuum Detected by: • Used for radar

Microwaves tubes called communication.
 crystal detectors
magnetrons in • Microwaves are also
or
microwave ovens  solid-state used for cooking,
or with a maser. diodes.

 oscillating  resonant circuits • Radio and television

Radio waves electrical circuits in radio receivers transmission signals
and transmitted with diodes and
through antennae  earphones.
(aerials).

Hazards of some Electromagnetic Waves

• Ultraviolet rays, X-rays and γ-rays carry high energy and when absorbed into the body in
large doses, may cause:
 Damage to the body cells, skin burn or affect the eyes.
• There are also delayed effects of radiation such as:
 Cancer
 Leukemia and
 Hereditary defects in children.
Minimising the Hazards
 Reduce dosage by minimising exposure time.
 Keep a safe distance from the radiations
 Use shielding materials such as lead jackets.

Worked Examples

Example 1
Green light has a wavelength of 5 × 10–7 m. Calculate the energy it emits.
Solution
v = f𝜆𝜆
3 ×108
f = =6 ×1014 Hz
5 ×10−7

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E = hf
= 6.63 × 10-34 6.0× 1014 =3.978 × 10-19 J
Example 2
A radio station is transmitting at a frequency of 15.42 MHz. Calculate the wavelength of the
transmission.

Solution
𝑐𝑐
Given c = f𝝀𝝀, 𝝀𝝀 =
𝑓𝑓
3 ×108
=
1.542 ×107
= 19.46 m

Example 3
An X-ray machine produces radiation of wavelength of 1.0 × 10–11 m. Calculate:
(a) the frequency of the radiation.
(b) its energy content.
Solution
(a) Given c = f𝝀𝝀,
𝑐𝑐
f=
𝜆𝜆
3 ×108
f =
1.0 ×10−11
= 3.0 × 1019 Hz

(b) Energy content is given by;

E = hf
= 6.63 × 10–34 × 3.0 × 1019
= 1.989 × 10–14 J