Type of wave

Gamma rays

X-rays

Ultraviolet

Wavelength
Range/m

Method of
Production

Properties

Applic
Uses

x10-12

Emitted during
radioactive
decay

1. very
penetrating
2. produce weak
ionization
3. produce weak
fluorescence
4. affect photo
film

Medi
chem

x10-10

Produced by
firing electrons
at a metal target

1. ionizing
2. affect photo
film
3. penetrating
4. produces
fluorescence
5. can produce
photoelectric
emission

Used
bones
can p
throu
flesh

1.Emitted by the
Sun
2.Electron
energy level
changes in
atoms

1. produces
ionisation,
fluorescence
2. initiates
chemical
reactions
3. absorbed by
plate glass
4. produces the
photoelectric
effect
5. affects photo
film

Tann

1.Emitted by the
Sun
2.Electron
energy level
changes in
atoms

1. starts
chemical
reactions (eg
photosynthesis)
2. affects photo
film

Vision

1.Emitted by hot
objects
2.Molecular
vibration
3.Electron
energy level
changes in
atoms

1. transfer of
heat energy to
materials
2. modulation for
short distance
control (eg TV
remotes)

Conve
cooki

-8

x10

Visible light

Infrared

7 x10-7 to 4x10-7

x10-5

Microwaves

-3

-2

x10 to x10

Radio

x1

Produced by
changing
currents in a
conductor

1. modulation
of waves for
communication
2. resonance
with molecules,
producing heat

Micro
cooki
comm

Produced by
changing
currents in a
conductor

waves can be
modulated for
communication

Comm
and m

All the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum...

travel the same speed in a vacuum;
can be reflected, refracted, diffracted and polarised;
are transverse waves.
Radio Waves:
Used for radio broadcasts, amateur radio, television, and mobile
phones. Different parts of the radio spectrum have been allocated to
the various services. Radio waves have a much longer wavelength
that light waves. The longest waves are several kilometers in length.
The shortest ones are only millimeters long.
They make the electrons in a piece of copper wire move; this means
that they generate electric currents in the wire. In fact it works both
ways: alternating currents in a copper wire generate
electromagnetic waves, and electromagnetic waves generate
alternating currents. The electric currents at radio frequencies (rf)
are used by radio and television transmitters and receivers. I use
frequencies of 145MHz (VHF), 14MHz (20m HF) and 3.7MHz (80m
HF).
Microwaves:
Microwaves have such a short wavelength that they are very easily
absorbed by water. This is why they are used in microwave ovens.
What happens is that when the water in your TV dinner absorbs the
microwaves, the energy of the microwaves is converted into heat: it
makes the water molecules vibrate faster. Some people are
frightened that the radio waves coming out of their mobile phones
are short enough to cook their brains.
Infra Red:
These radio/light waves have a very short wavelength; their
wavelength is longer than visible light. Infra-red can be detected by
special infra-red film. If the police or MI5 shine an infra-red light on
you they will be able to take a picture of you using infra-red film:
you will not know that they have taken your photo. Animals like the
pit-viper have infra-red detectors so that they can find their prey in
the dark.
The Visible Spectrum:

Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain. = Red, Orange, Yellow, Green,

Blue, Indigo, and Violet. are the colours of the visible spectrum. We
cannot see Infra-red, but we can feel it warm our skin when we sit in
the sun. Infra-red has a longer wavelength (less energy) than Red
light. We cannot see Ultra-violet light, but we feel our skin has been
burnt by the sun if we were in the sun too long yesterday. It is the
Ultra-violet which is thought to cause skin cancer. UV light has a
shorter wavelength (more energy) than visible light.
Ultra Violet:
These waves have very high energy and very short wave lengths;
shorter than visible light. Some animals like honey bees can see
ultra-violet light. Some plants have white flowers, at least you think
that they are all white, but they may appear to be different colours
to a honey bee because of the amounts of ultra-violet light which
they reflect.
X-Rays:
X-Rays have so much energy and such a short wavelength that they
can go right through you. However, they cannot get through bone as
easily as they can get through muscle. This is because your bones
contain so much Calcium. If you have never had an X-Ray, try
jumping off a high wall and breaking a bone. The doctors will soon
have you fixed: they take an X-Ray to see which bones have been
broken. If you break the bone in enough places they will have to use
steel bolts to fix you up.
X-Ray can also be used to find other problems in your body. If the
doctors want to look for ulcers in your guts, they can give you a
Barium meal. Like Calcium, the Barium absorbs X-Rays so the
doctors can look at parts of your guts and find your ulcers. You get
ulcers by
Gamma Rays:
These are nasty ones. They have very high energy and will even go
through metals. So they can be used for finding tiny cracks in
metals. You cannot see the hairline cracks in an aeroplane wing with
the naked eye. How would you like the wings to fall off the plane on
your summer holiday flight to Neasden or wherever it is that you go.
If the plane has been thoroughly checked you should be safe. Some
radioactive materials produce gamma rays. Gamma rays and X-Rays
can cause cancer, but gamma rays can also be used to destroy
cancer cells: this is radio-therapy.