ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES PROJECT siva(1)

ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES
PHYSICS PROJECT 2024-2025
KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA NO: 1

CALICUT
BY: SIVAKIRAN M
CLASS: XII E
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that SIVAKIRAN M of class XII E Of KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA NO. 1,
CALICUT has completed his investigatory project entitled "ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES" in
Physics during the year 2023-24. The subject matter present in the project is original and bonafide in
nature.
Principal's Sign Teacher's Sign External Examiner's sign

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
INDEX
1) Introduction of EM Waves
2) Types of EM Waves
3) Electromagnetic spectrum
4) Characteristics of EM Waves
5) Uses of EM Waves
6) Bibliography
What are EM Waves?
EM waves are waves that are created as a result of vibrations between an electric
field and a magnetic field. In other words, EM waves are composed of oscillating
magnetic and electric fields.
Electromagnetic waves differ from mechanical waves in that they do not
require a medium to propagate. This means that electromagnetic waves can
travel not only through air and solid materials, but also through the vacuum of
space.
Uses of EM Waves
Quick revise
Introduction
 Wavelength of the ElectroMagnetic spectrum continually changes

 high frequency = short wavelength
 high frequency = high energy
 high energy = more dangerous
Radio Waves (communications)
 TV and FM radio (short wavelength)

 Direct line of sight with transmitter (do not diffract)
 Medium wavelength – travel further because they reflect from layers in
the atmosphere
Satellite signals (Microwaves)
 Frequency of microwaves pass easily through atmosphere and clouds
Cooking (Microwaves)
 Microwaves are absorbed by water molecules.

 These water molecules become heated > heat food
 Dangers: microwaves are absorbed by living tissue Internal heating will
damage or kill cells
Infrared Radiation (remote controls, toasters)
 Any object that radiates heat radiates Infrared Radiation

 Infrared Radiation is absorbed by all materials and causes heating
 It is used for night vision and security cameras as Infrared Radiation is
visible in daytime or night-time
 Police use it to catch criminals, army use it to detect enemy
 Dangers: damage to cells (burns)
Ultraviolet
Dangers:
 over-exposure to UVA and B damages surface cells

and eyes and can cause cancer.
 There is a problem with current sunscreens which
protect against skin burning from high UVB but give
inadequate protection against free radical damage
caused by UVA.
 Dark skins are not necessarily safer from harm.
 Sun exposure for the skin is best restricted to before
11am and after 3pm in the UK in summer months.
Benefits:
o sanitary and therapeutic properties have a marked effect on

architecture, engineering and public health and have done so
throughout history.
o UVC is germicidal, destroying bacteria, viruses and moulds in
the air, in water and on surfaces.
o UV synthesises vitamin D in skin, controls the endocrine
system and is a painkiller.
o Used in state of the art air-handling units, personal air purifiers
and swimming pool technology.
o Used to detect forged bank notes: they fluoresce in UV light;
real bank notes don’t. Used to identify items outside visible
spectrum areas, known as 'black lighting'.
X-rays
 X-rays detect bone breaks

 X-rays pass through flesh but not dense material like bones
 Dangers: X-rays damage cells and cause cancers. Radiographer
precautions include wearing lead aprons and standing behind a
lead screen to minimise exposure
Gamma Rays
 Gamma Rays cause and treat cancers
 In high doses, gamma can kill normal cells and cause
cancers
 Gamma can be used to kill mutated cells though too.
Types of EM Waves…
Though the sciences generally classify EM waves into seven basic types, all are
manifestations of the same phenomenon.
• Radio Waves: Instant Communication.
• Microwaves: Data and Heat.
• Infrared Waves: Invisible Heat.
• Visible Light Rays: Light.
• Ultraviolet Waves: Energetic Light.
• X-rays: Penetrating Radiation.
• Gamma Rays: Nuclear Energy.

Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Once light was determined to have a wave nature, experimenters looked to find
and confirm the wavelength of visible light. The wavelengths at which the human
retina is sensitive to are extremely small and not easily detectable. The unit used
for these wavelengths is the nanometer (nm), where 1 nm = 10 -9 meters.
Experiments determined that visible light has wavelengths covering the range
from about 400 nm for violet light to 700 nm for red light. (Some scientists prefer
to measure wavelengths in Angstroms, where one Angstrom is 10 -10 meters. This
project will use nanometers)
• Maxwell realized his equations did not place any limits on the wavelength, and
hence frequency, of electromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic waves could
exist with wavelengths both longer and shorter than the range of visible light.
• Consequently, researchers started to look for invisible light. The range of all
wavelengths, including both visible and invisible light, is now called the
electromagnetic spectrum.
• The most important characteristic of all these waves is their speed - it is the
same as the speed of light!
Mathematically, using c for the speed of electromagnetic waves in the
equation for the speed of a wave, v=λf, we can write:
c=λf
(speed of light = wavelength x frequency)
CHARECTERISTICS OF EM WAVES
• Electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature as they propagate by varying

the electric and magnetic fields such that the two fields are perpendicular to
each other.
• Accelerated charges are responsible to produce electromagnetic waves.
• Electromagnetic waves have constant velocity in vacuum and it is nearly equal
to 3×10^8 ms−1 which is denoted by C = 1/√μoϵO.
• Electromagnetic wave propagation does not require any material medium to
travel.
• The inherent characteristic of an electromagnetic wave is its frequency. Their
frequencies remain unchanged but its wavelength changes when the wave
travels from one medium to another.
• The light vector (also known as the electric vector) is the reason for the optical
effects due to an electromagnetic wave
• In an electromagnetic wave, the oscillating electric and magnetic fields are in
the same phase and their magnitudes have a constant ratio. The ratio of the
amplitudes of electric and magnetic fields is equal to the velocity of the
electromagnetic wave. C = E0B0
• The energy is carried by the electric and magnetic fields of electromagnetic
waves are equal, i.e. the electric energy (UE) and the magnetic energy (UM)
are equal; UE = UM.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 NCERT
 STUDY.COM
 WWW.BRITANNICA.COM
 WWW.VEDANTU.COM
 GOOGLE
 GOOGLE IMAGE

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ELECTROMAGNETIC

PHYSICS PROJECT 2024-2025

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA NO: 1

Principal's Sign Teacher's Sign External Examiner's sign

What are EM Waves?

 Wavelength of the ElectroMagnetic spectrum continually changes

Radio Waves (communications)

 TV and FM radio (short wavelength)

Satellite signals (Microwaves)

 Frequency of microwaves pass easily through atmosphere and clouds

 Microwaves are absorbed by water molecules.

Infrared Radiation (remote controls, toasters)

 Any object that radiates heat radiates Infrared Radiation

 over-exposure to UVA and B damages surface cells

o sanitary and therapeutic properties have a marked effect on

 X-rays detect bone breaks

• Gamma Rays: Nuclear Energy.

• Electromagnetic waves are transverse in nature as they propagate by varying

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