Electromagnetic Waves
Stefan Brandt
What Kind of Disturbance Creates an Electromagnetic Wave?
An Electromagnetic Wave is created by a vibrating electric charge, and they contain both magnetic and electrical parts.
What are Two Ways that Electromagnetic Waves are Different from Mechanical Waves?
For one, electromagnetic waves do not require a medium to travel through, so that means that they can travel in outer space. Also, as stated above, electromagnetic waves contain magnetic and electrical parts, which is different than mechanical waves.
We Will Now Describe the Different Kinds of Electromagnetic Waves
This is the list from longest wavelength to shortest wavelength:
- Radio
- Microwave
- Infrared
- Visible Light
- Ultra-Violent
- X-ray
- Gamma Ray
Radio Waves
These waves have the lowest frequency, wavelength, and energy. The wavelength is 1,000 meters, and the frequency is 10,000 Hz. These waves are used by radio stations to broadcast songs and news. Stars and gases in space also emitted this kind of wave.
Microwaves
These have the second lowest wavelength, frequency and energy. The wavelength is .01 meters, or 1 cm, and the frequency is 100,000,000 Hz. These waves are used by microwaves to cook your food, and astronomers to learn about space.
Infrared Waves
These have the third lowest wavelength, frequency, and energy. The wave length is .00001 meter, or 10 micrometers, and the frequency is 1,000,000,000,000 Hz. Night vision goggles use infrared waves to see in the dark, and scientists use this to see the dust between stars.
Visible Light
This is the only part of the Electromagnetic spectrum that we can see with our naked eye. They have the fourth highest wavelength, frequency, and energy. The wavelength is .000001 meter, or 1 micrometer, and the frequency is 1,000,000,000,000,000 Hz. Anything that emits light uses this.
Ultra-Violent
This type of wave have the third highest wavelength, frequency, and energy. The wavelength is .00000001 meter, and the frequency is 10,000,000,000,000,000 Hz. The sun emits ultra-violent rays that tan and burn our skin, other stars also emit this type of wave.
X-ray
This type of wave has the second highest wavelength, frequency, and energy. The wavelength is .0000000001 meter, and the frequency is 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 Hz. Dentists use this to look at your teeth, and airports use this to see if you have anything illegal.
Gamma Ray
This type of wave has the highest wavelength, frequency, and energy. The wavelength is .000000000001 meter, and the frequency is 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 Hz. The universe is the biggest creator of gamma rays.
Electromagnetic waves and the electromagnetic spectrum | Physics | Khan Academy