 A wave is a disturbance that transfers EM Wave Applications / Uses

energy. Radio waves- Radio and television communication

 James Clerk Maxwell formulated the Microwaves- Satellite television and
Electromagnetic Wave Theory communication
which says that an oscillating electric current Infrared waves- Remote control, household
should be capable of electrical appliances
radiating energy in the form of electromagnetic Visible light- Artificial lighting, optical fibers in
waves. medical uses, screen of electronic devices
 Heinrich Hertz discovered the Hertzian Ultraviolet- Sterilization, Fluorescence
waves which is now known as X-rays- Medical use, engineering applications
radio waves. Gamma rays- Medical treatment
 Hertz is the unit used to measure the
 Each type of EM wave poses a certain
frequency of waves.
degree of risk and danger to people and
 Electromagnetic (EM) waves have unique environment.
properties.
►► EM waves can travel through a
vacuum.
►► EM waves travel at the speed which is
constant in a given medium
and has a value of c = 3.0 x 108 m/s in
vacuum.
►► EM waves are disturbances in a field
rather than in a medium.
►► EM waves have an electric field that
travels perpendicular with the magnetic
field.
►► EM waves form when moving charged
particles transfer energy through a field.
 Most EM waves are invisible to the eye but
detectable. Only the visible light is seen by
humans.
 Waves in the EM spectrum include the
following from the longest wavelength to
the shortest wavelength.
►► Radio waves
►► Microwaves
►► Infrared waves
►►Visible light
►► Ultraviolet
►► X-rays
►► Gamma rays
 The order also shows the increasing
frequency and energy of the EM waves.
 The waves in the various regions in the EM
spectrum share similar properties but differ
in wavelength, frequency, energy, and
method of production.
 The regions in the EM spectrum have
various uses and applications as follows: