the electromagnetic spectrum Flashcards
what is the wave with the widest wavelength?
radio waves
what is the wave with the highest frequency?
gamma waves
what are the similarities between the waves of the electromagnetic spectrum?
- they are all transverse waves
- they can all travel through a vacuum
- they all have the same amplitude
- they can all be reflected
what are the differences between the waves of the electromagnetic spectrum?
- they have different wavelengths
- they have different frequencies
what is the rhym used to help remember the order of the waves?
Rabbits Mate In Very Unusual eXpensive Gardens
what is the order of the waves of the electromagnetic spectrum starting from the largest wavelength?
radio waves micro waves infra red waves visible light waves ultra violet light waves x-ray waves gamma ray waves
what are radio waves mainly used for?
communication
-they have long wave lengths which means they deffract and so a radio wave could start in london and end up half way around the world
what are microwaves mainly used for?
satellite communication and mobile phones
-they pass easily through the earths watery atmoshphere
what are infra red wave used for?
remote controls and optical fibres
how is infra red used in a remote control?
the remote emits different patterns of infra red waves to send different commands to an appliance e.g. a tv
-it uses infra red and visible light
how is infra red use in optical fibres?
they carry data over long distances very quickly
-it uses infra red and visible light
how is visible light used
we use it to see and for photography
what can gamma ray waves be used for?
- it can destroy cells in the body such as cancer cells
- it can destroy harmful bacteria in food
- can sterilize surgical equipment
what can x-ray waves be used for?
-doctors can use it to look for broken bones in us as it travels through muscle and soft tissue.
