The different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum differ in wavelength and frequency Gamma rays X-rays Ultraviolet Visible light Infrared Microwaves Radio and TV The different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum can also be distinguished by their energy. Higher frequency electromagnetic radiation has a greater amount of energy than lower frequency electromagnetic radiation. Some information on each part of the spectrum is given below Type of e-m Typical source Application Detector Possible hazard radiation Radio & TV Electrical antennae Telecommunications Aerial Potential increased cancer risk Microwaves Cosmic sources, Cooking, Diode probe Heating of body magnetron telecommunications tissues Infra-red Heat-emitting Thermograms Phototransistor, Heating of body objects blackened tissues thermometer Visible light Stars Vision Eye, photographic Intense light can film damage the retina Ultraviolet Sunlight Treating skin Fluorescent paint Skin cancer conditions X-rays X-ray tube, cosmic Medical imaging Photographic plates Destroys cells sources which can lead to cancer Gamma rays Nuclear decay Treating tumours Geiger–Müller tube Destroys cells and counter which can lead to cancer Light At the boundary between different types of materials, the speed of the light wave changes. This results in a change in wavelength, and can often cause the direction of a wave to change. refraction. The change in light speed when going from one medium into another is known as
The different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum differ in wavelength and frequency Gamma rays X-rays Ultraviolet Visible light Infrared Microwaves Radio and TV The different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum can also be distinguished by their energy. Higher frequency electromagnetic radiation has a greater amount of energy than lower frequency electromagnetic radiation. Some information on each part of the spectrum is given below Type of e-m radiation Typical source Application Detector Possible hazard Radio & TV Electrical antennae Telecommunications Aerial Potential increased cancer risk Microwaves Cosmic sources, magnetron Cooking, telecommunications Diode probe Heating of body tissues Infra-red Heat-emitting objects Thermograms Phototransistor, blackened thermometer Heating of body tissues Visible light Stars Vision Eye, photographic film Intense light can damage the retina Ultraviolet Sunlight Treating skin conditions Fluorescent paint Skin cancer X-rays X-ray tube, cosmic sources Medical imaging Photographic plates Destroys cells which can lead to cancer Gamma rays Nuclear decay Treating tumours Geiger–Müller tube and counter Destroys cells which can lead to cancer Light At the boundary between different types of materials, the speed of the light wave changes. This results in a change in wavelength, and can often cause the direction of a wave to change. The change in light speed when going from one medium into another is known as refraction.
Waves-and-Radiation-summary-notes1.docx