Electromagnetic Waves Flashcards
List the three properties of electromagnetic waves.
- Can travel in a vacuum
- Travel at exactly the same speed in a vacuum
- Are transverse waves.
What property is unique to electromagnetic waves?
They can travel in a vacuum
List the seven electromagnetic waves in order of increasing wavelength.
Gamma waves, X-rays, ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, microwaves, radio waves
Wavelength of gamma waves
0.01 nm
Wavelength of X-rays
0.1 nm
Wavelength of visible light
0.5 µm
Wavelength of infrared light
0.01 mm
Wavelength of microwaves
3 cm
Wavelength of radio waves
1000 m
Use of gamma waves
Sterilisation of medical equipment
Use of X-rays
To detect broken bones
Use of ultraviolet light
Gives a sun tan
Use of visible light
Photosynthesis
Use of infrared light
Toasters
Use of microwaves
Mobile phone communications
Use of radio waves
Communication between emergency services
Danger of gamma waves
Can disrupt DNA and cause cancer
Danger of X-rays
Can disrupt DNA and cause cancer
Danger of ultraviolet light
Can cause skin cancer
Danger of visible light
Can cause snow-blindness
Danger of infrared light
Damages cells by burning
Danger of microwaves
Can cause eye cataracts
Danger of radio waves
No known dangers
Reducing the risk of mobile phone microwaves on children
Children should use mobile phones seldom, because their small body mass would make any possible harm more severe.
Reducing the risk of mobile phone microwaves on the general public
Use mobile phones with the speaker phone enabled to keep your head as far away as possible from the radiation
Reducing the risk of mobile phone masts on the general public
Mobile phone masts should not be placed near schools and hospitals
What is the precautionary principle?
Even though the chances of negative health effects are low, it makes sense to avoid unnecessary risk
