EM Spectrum [REVISE]! Flashcards
electromagnetic spectrum is arranged in a specific order based on the ______________________
wavelengths or frequencies
longest wavelength (lowest frequency) to shortest wavelength (highest frequency)
goes
RMIVUXG
red monkey in van under xray, gamma!
Radio waves
Microwaves
Infrared
Visible (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)
Ultraviolet
X-rays
Gamma rays
The higher the frequency, the higher the energy of the radiation
^ FREQ,
^ ENERGY OF RADIATION
Radiation with higher energy is:
Highly ionising
Harmful to cells and tissues causing cancer (e.g. UV, X-rays, Gamma rays)
Radiation with lower energy is:
Useful for communications
Less harmful to humans
RADIO & GAMMA,
which wl is shorter?
Radios are big (long wavelength)
Gamma rays are emitted from atoms which are very small (short wavelength)
Properties of Electromagnetic Waves
Define them
Transverse waves that transfer energy from the source of the waves to an absorber
All electromagnetic waves share the following properties:
all transverse
They can all travel through a vacuum
They all travel at the same speed in a vacuum
continuous spectrum
speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is
3.0 × 10^8 m/s
approximately the same speed as electromagnetic waves in air
Uses of Electromagnetic Waves
- RADIO
communication (radio & TV)
- Used for long-range communications
- Reason: because they can be reflected from the earth’s atmosphere
- microwave
DANGER PREVENTED
Microwave ovens, on the other hand, emit very large amounts of energy, however, that energy is prevented from escaping the oven by the metal walls and metal grid in the glass door
heating food
communication (WiFi, mobile phones, satellites); microwaves emit very small amounts of energy which are not known to cause any harm
- Use: satellite communications
- Reason: bc microwaves can penetrate earth’s atmosphere
- infra-red
📍 remote controls
📍 fibre optic communication (MOST) ;;
⭐ USE - OPTICAL FIBRE COMMUNICATION
⭐ REASON ;;; bc they can UNDERGO TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION
📍 thermal imaging (medicine & industry, research)
📍 night vision
📍 heating or cooking things
📍 motion sensors (for security alarms)
📍 electrical heaters
📍 infrared cameras
- visible light
seeing & taking photographs/videos
⭐ USE: taking photos & videos
⭐ REASON: Cameras are SET UP TO DETECT VISIBLE LIGHT
fibre optic communications
/// only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can see; human eye can detect wavelengths from 750 nanometres (red light) up to 380 nanometres (violet light)
- ultraviolet
security marking (fluorescence)
⭐ USE: for DETECTING SECURITY IK
⭐ REASON: bc it FLUORESCES w/ ULTRAVIOLET LIGHTING
fluorescent bulbs (energy efficient lamps)
getting a suntan [your body’s way of protecting itself against the ultraviolet]
- X-Rays
X-Ray images (medicine, airport security & industry)
⭐ USE: to PHOTOGRAPH BONES
⭐ REASON: bc x-rays can penetrate soft tissues but NOT bone; able to pass through most body tissues but are absorbed by the denser parts of the body, such as bones
When exposed to x-rays, the bones absorb the x-rays, leaving a shadow which can be seen using a special x-ray detector or photographic film
- Gamma rays
⭐ USE: sterilising medical instruments
⭐ REASON: bc GAMMA KILLS BACTERIA
treating cancer;; very dangerous and can be used to kill cells and living tissue; property can be utilised in both cancer detection and treatment
If these gamma rays are carefully aimed at cancerous tissue, they can be very effective at destroying the cancerous cells
DANGERS:
- MICROWAVES
Danger: high intensity microwaves can cause heating of internal organs
REASON: water molecules absorb microwaves strongly
- GAMMA, X-RAYS, UV
Danger: Gamma x-rays & high intensity ultraviolet can HARM CELLS & CAUSE CANCER
Reason: they are HIGHLY IONISING due to having a LOT of energy
Dangers - general. Main risks associated with EM waves
- Radio
No known danger
- Microwave
Possible heat damage to internal organs;
Certain frequencies of microwaves are absorbed by water molecules
Since humans contain a lot of water, there is a risk of internal heating from microwaves
Infrared
skin burns
visible light
bright light can cause eye damage
Ultraviolet
eye damage [Good quality sunglasses will absorb ultraviolet, preventing it from entering the eyes]
sunburn
skin cancer [Sunscreen absorbs ultraviolet light, preventing it from damaging the skin]