Electromagnetic Waves Archives - Study notes, tips, worksheets, exam papers

List the components of electromagnetic waves, from the lowest frequency to highest frequency.

01/11/2023 at 9:57 am (last edited 01/11/2023 at 9:57 am)

Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared rays, Visible light rays (ROYGBIV), Ultraviolet rays, X-rays, Gamma rays.

(Ronald Mcdonald Is Very Ugly Xcept Gary!)

List the properties of electromagnetic waves.

01/11/2023 at 9:54 am (last edited 01/11/2023 at 9:54 am)

They transfer energy from a wave source
They are transverse waves
They travel with the same speed of 3×10⁸ m/s in vacuum
They can travel through vacuum. No medium required for its transmission.
They travel in straight lines.

Telescope Orbits the Earth

21/12/2022 at 10:23 am (last edited 21/12/2022 at 10:23 am)

Describe the effects of absorbing electromagnetic waves.

13/08/2020 at 5:41 pm (last edited 13/08/2020 at 5:41 pm)

Heating Effect

– Infrared heating

Fires and hot bodies emit infra-red radiation. Our skin absorbs the infra-red rays, making us feel warm.

– Microwaves heating

Microwaves are of a non-ionizing character. However, microwaves, being more penetrative, can cause more severe burns to the skin, especially when skin has high water content.

Ionisation Effect

UV rays, X-ray, Gamma ray can cause breakdown of DNA, and ionization of molecules and atoms in living matter. The mutation of these cells and atoms can lead to formation of cancerous cells.