Electromagnetic Radiation

_ These waves spread across the spectrum from very short gamma rays to x-rays,
ultraviolet rays, visible light waves even longer infrared waves, microwaves to
radio wave which can measure longer than a mountain range
Electromagnetic Spectrum
- This spectrum is the foundation of the information age and of our modern world
- the continuous range of electromagnetic waves arranged in order of frequency
or wavelength.
Electromagnetic Waves (EM Waves)
- are similar to ocean wave, in that both are energy waves; they transmit energy.
- are produced by the vibration of charged particles and have electrical and
magnetic properties (accelerating charges).
- (unlike ocean waves that require water) travel through the vacuum of space at
the constant speed of light
- have crests and troughs like ocean waves
-are classified according to their wavelength or frequency.
Wavelength
- Distance between crests
- some EM are very long and are measured in meters, many are tiny and are
measured in billions of a meter; nanometers.
Frequency (of the wave)
-described as the number of crests that pass a given point within one second
Hertz (Hz)
- One waves or cycle per second
Note:
* Long EM Waves, such as radio waves, have the lowest frequency and carry less
energy.
*Adding energy increases the frequency of the wave and makes the wavelength
shorter.
Gamma Rays
- are the shortest, highest energy waves in the spectrum.
Note:
* Objects appear to be in color because EM waves interact with their molecules.
*Visible Light
-allows us to see objects
- contains important scientific clues that reveal hidden properties of object
throughout the universe
-helps us explore the far regions of the universe that humans could not hoped to
reach physically
NASA Instruments
- can do more than passively sense radiation, they can also actively send out
electromagnetic waves to map topography

Laser Altimeter

- can also make unique measurements of the height of clouds, the top of the
vegetationforest, and can see the distribution of aerosols, there sources such as
dust storms and forest fires
Radio waves
-are the longest and contain the least energy of any electromagnetic wave.
-fill the space around us to bring entertainment, communications, and key
scientific information
Infrared Waves
-literally means: below red
-relative size: pin tip
-consists of short wavelengths around 760 NM to longer wavelengths about
1,000,000 NM or about a thousand micrometers in length.
-have longer wavelengths than visible light and can pass through dense region of
gas and dust with lower scattering and absorption.
Infrared energy
-can reveal objects in the universe that cannot be seen with optical telescopes.
Microwaves
- considered as high-frequency radio waves and are mainly used for
communication, in the medical field, and in the kitchen.
Ultraviolet Radiation
-use to treat skin conditions and stimulate the production of vitamin D in our body.
-Can be subdivided in 3 regions, UV-A, UV-B and UV-C
*UV-A
- Long wave ultraviolet, the closest to visible light, most also reaches the surface
*UV-B
-Shorter wavelength, are the harmful rays that cause sunburn
*UV-C
- are the shortest and most harmful, and almost completely absorb by our
atmosphere
Gamma Rays
- most energetic of all EM Waves
-are the shortest of all EM Waves about the size of an atomic nucleus
- given off by radioactive materials
- highly penetrating
X-Rays
-are sometimes called Roentgen rays
-Are produced by the sun and other stars
-Also produced when accelerated electrons hit a metal and some medical
equipment

It is everything that surrounds us everyday, everywhere you go. It is odorless and

tasteless, yet we depend on it every hour of every day. Without it, the world that
we know could not exist. Know what it is? It is the electromagnetic waves. We use
electromagnetic waves a lot. The electromagnetic waves as we know has many

uses in our day-to-day living. It has a spectrum that is the foundation of the
information age and of our modern world, and every part of the electromagnetic
spectrum has multiple applications in our everyday lives, and many of those
applications also involve technology. We see because of light waves. It is also
used in traffic lights, commercial displays, car headlight, and tail lights.
Information/messages sent from place to place because of radio waves. We cant
hear this radio waves when you tune your radio but, the radio receives this
electromagnetic radio waves and then vibrates the speaker to create the sound
waves we hear. We cook food in microwave ovens, and forecast weather using
microwaves. The X-rays and gamma rays are also now used in the medical field
that cures and diagnosis various diseases. Infrared waves are what comes out of
remote controls. It is also a type of wave that transmits a lot of heat, and is used
to create heat-sensitive and night vision cameras. The ultraviolet rays also are
used as a medical sterilizing agent. To sum it up, electromagnetic waves are
important because they are responsible in transmitting energy in the form of
microwaves, infrared radiation (IR), visible light (VIS), ultraviolet light (UV), Xrays, and gamma rays.

Since microwaves aren't that different from radio waves, they've also been used
for communications, especially for extending TV signals to larger distances.