Electromagnetic Radiations

Electromagnetic Radiations
• Electromagnetic (EM) radiation is a form of energy
propagated through free space or through a material
medium in the form of electromagnetic waves.
• In contrast, energy that is transmitted, or radiated,
through space in the form of periodic oscillations of
electric and magnetic fields is known as electromagnetic
radiation
• EM radiation is so-named because it has electric and
magnetic fields that simultaneously oscillate in planes
mutually perpendicular to each other and to the direction
of propagation through space.
Characteristics of Electromagnetic Radiations

• These consist of electric and magnetic fields that

oscillate in the directions perpendicular to each
other.
• All electromagnetic waves travel with same
velocity. The velocity equal to that of light, 3x108
m/sec.
• These electromagnetic radiations do not require
any medium for propagation. E.g. light reaches us
from the Sun through an empty space.
 Properties of Waves and Electromagnetic
radiation
• A wave is a continuously repeating change or
oscillation in matter at regular intervals.
• Light is also a wave; it consists of oscillations in
electric and magnetic fields that can travel through
space.
• The point of maximum upward displacement is called
crest, and maximum downward displacement is called
trough.
• waves may be considered as a continuous sequence of
alternating crest and troughs.
 Properties a Wave
• Wave length (λ)
• The wavelength denoted by λ (lambda) is defined as the distance between any two
adjacent peaks (crests) or troughs on successive waves.
• Unit of wavelength is A0 (Angstron), μ (micrometer) etc
• Frequency
• The frequency, ν (nu) is the number of waves or cycles per second pass through a
given point.
• The frequency is expressed in the unit of cycles per second (s-1 ) or Hertz (Hz).
• Amplitude
• It is the vertical distance from the midline of a wave to the peak or trough. Height
of crest or depth of trough.
• Velocity
• Electromagnetic radiations travel with the speed of light. Speed is equal to C.
• The unit of velocity is ms-1 or cms-1
 Relationships among Variables
• Wavelength and frequency are inversely
proportional to each other.
• Energy is directly proportional to frequency.
• Energy is inversely proportional to
wavelength.
 Electromagnetic Radiations
• In 1873 James Clerk Maxwell proposed that light consists of
electromagnetic waves.
• According to Maxwell’s theory, an electromagnetic wave has
an electric field component and a magnetic field component.
• These two components have the same wavelength and
frequency, and hence the same speed, but they travel in
mutually perpendicular planes.
• His model describes how energy in the form of radiation can
be propagated through space as vibrating electric and
magnetic fields.
• Electromagnetic radiation is the emission and transmission of
energy in the form of electromagnetic waves.
 Gamma Rays
• The shortest waves, which also have the highest frequency,
are associated with γ rays.
• which result from changes within the nucleus of the atom.
• Gamma-rays are produced primarily by four different nuclear
reactions: fusion, fission, alpha decay and gamma decay.
• Gamma-rays are sometimes used to treat cancerous
tumors in the body by damaging the DNA of the tumor cells.
However, great care must be taken, because gamma-rays can
also damage the DNA of surrounding healthy tissue cells.
• Used for sterilizing medical equipments and food.
 X-Rays
• X-rays are types of electromagnetic radiation probably most well-known
for their ability to see through a person's skin and reveal images of the
bones beneath it.
• Due to their ability to penetrate certain materials, X-rays are used for
several nondestructive evaluation and testing applications, particularly
for identifying flaws or cracks in structural components.
• X-rays are also essential for transportation security inspections of cargo,
luggage and passengers. Electronic imaging detectors allow for real-time
visualization of the content of packages and other passenger items. 
• Additionally, computed tomography (CT) combines multiple X-ray images
into a 3D model of a region of interest.
• Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by
damaging their DNA. Since the treatment can also damage normal cells.
 Ultraviolet Radiations
• Ultraviolet (UV) radiation covers the wavelength range of 100–400 nm, which is a
higher frequency and lower wavelength than visible light.
 UVA (315-400 nm)
 UVB (280-315 nm)
 UVC (100-280 nm)
• UV radiation has enough energy to break chemical bonds. Due to their higher
energies, UV photons can cause ionization, a process in which electrons break
away from atoms.
• This can be useful for chemical processing, or it can be damaging to materials and
living tissues. This damage can be beneficial, for instance, in disinfecting surfaces,
but it can also be harmful, particularly to skin and eyes.
• UV synthesizes vitamin D in skin, controls the endocrine system and is a painkiller.
• A suntan and sun burn is a reaction to exposure to harmful UVB rays.
• People who get sunburned repeatedly are at much higher risk of skin cancer. The
risk for the deadliest form of skin cancer, called melanoma
 Ultraviolet Radiations
• UVC is germicidal, destroying bacteria, viruses and moulds in the air, in
water and on surfaces.
• Used in state of the art air-handling units, personal air purifiers and
swimming pool technology.
• 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'.
• Phototherapy (UV therapy): Some skin problems (such as psoriasis)
are helped by treatment with UV light. For a treatment known as
PUVA, a drug called a psoralen is given first. The drug collects in the
skin and makes it more sensitive to UV. Then the patient is treated
with UVA radiation. Another treatment option is the use of UVB alone
(without a drug).
 Infrared Radiations
• IR is a type of electromagnetic radiation, a continuum of
frequencies produced when atoms absorb and then release energy.
• 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)
• Infrared Radiation is most commonly used in remote sensing as
infrared sensors collect thermal energy, providing us with weather
conditions.
• Household appliances such as heat lamps and toasters
use IR radiation to transmit heat, as do industrial heaters
such as those used for drying and curing materials.
• TV remote controls that rely on infrared radiation shoot
out pulses of IR energy from a light-emitting diode (LED)
to an IR receiver in the TV. The receiver converts the light
pulses to electrical signals that instruct a microprocessor
to carry out the programmed command.
• A simple example of such a sensor is the bolometer,
which consists of a telescope with a temperature-
sensitive resistor, or thermistor, at its focal point, If a
warm body comes into this instrument's field of view, the
heat causes a detectable change in the voltage across the
thermistor.
 Microwave
• Microwaves can be used to broadcast information
through space, as well as warm food.
• They are also used in remote sensing in which
microwaves are released and bounced back to collect
information on their reflections.
• Microwaves can be measured in centimeters. They are
good for transmitting information because the energy
can go through substances such as clouds and light rain.
• Short microwaves are sometimes used in Doppler
radars to predict weather forecasts.
 Radio waves
• are approximately 103 m in wavelength.
• Radio waves are transmitted by radio broadcasts, TV broadcasts,
and even cell phones.
• Radio waves have the lowest energy levels.
• Radio waves are used in remote sensing, where hydrogen gas in
space releases radio energy with a low frequency and is collected
as radio waves.
• They are also used in radar systems, where they release radio
energy and collect the bounced energy back. Especially useful in
weather, radar systems are used to can illustrate maps of the
surface of the Earth and predict weather patterns since radio
energy easily breaks through the atmosphere. ;
Acid and Bases
• Acids are molecules that can split apart in water and
release hydrogen ions (H+). A common example is
hydrochloric acid (HCl). When HCl is added to water,
it splits apart into H+ and Cl–, increasing the number
of hydrogen ions in the water/HCl solution.
• pH is less than 7
• Bases are molecules that can split apart in water and
release hydroxide ions (OH–). The most common
example is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). When NaOH is
added to water, it splits apart into Na+ and OH–.
• pH is greater than 7