The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

1. X-Rays

   • have a high frequency and low wavelength
   • Radiologists wear lead aprons to protect their bodies from absorbing excess X-ray waves.
   • X-Rays are used medically to detect broken bones or problems within the body.
   • X-rays pass through skin and tissue but is absorbed by bones and dense materials

2. Gamma, X-Ray, UV, Visible Light, Infra Red, Microwaves, Radio / TV

   • Refraction happens in all waves.
   • Reflection happens in all waves.
   • all waves transmit and absorb energy.
   • all waves travel through a vacuum at the same speed (300,000,000 m/s) but have different wavelengths and frequencies.

3. Gamma

   • has the shortest wavelength and highest frequency
   • Lots of energy is transferred meaning Gamma is the most harmful wave.
   • Used to kill Cancer cells
   • Used to sterilize medical equiptment and objects

4. Infra Red

   • The hotter an object is, the more Infra Red radiation it emits.
   • Uses
     • Electric Oven
     • Thermal Imaging
     • Heat
     • Cooking
     • Remote Controls
     • Security Lights
     • Burglar Alarm
   • infra red is absorbed by skin: too much can burn your skin

5. Micro Waves

   • lower frequencies and longer wavelengths
   • absorbed by water molecules and used for cooking.
   • water in food absorbs microwaves and gives the molecules kinetic energy which makes them continuously flip to produces heat that cooks the food. cooks from the inside to the outside
   • can be used to transmit mobile phone signals
   • some microwaves can pass through the earth's atmosphere and transmit signals to satellites
   • living organisms can absorb microwaves in their body tissue which may affect internal organs

6. Radio

   • used to transmit radio and TV programs aswell as moble signals
   • living organisms can absorb radio waves in their body tisuse which may affect internal organs

7. optical fibres

   • used to transmit signals carried by visible light or infra red.
   • signals travel down the fibre by repeated total internal reflection.