Dangers and uses of waves

• The amount of energy that is transferred by an electromagnetic wave is dependent on its wavelength or frequency. The higher the frequency ( or shorter the wavelength ) are the most energetic and the most dangerous waves.
• Gamma -Rays

  Dangers:

  • Gamma rays can cause mutations to the DNA in cells in the body. This may kill the cells or cause cancer

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  Uses:

  • Sterilise food and medical equipment
  • In scanners to detect cancer
  • To treat cancer

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  Are gamma rays high or low frequency?

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  High
• X-rays

  Dangers:

  • X-rays can cause mutations to DNA in the cells in the body. This may kill cells or cause cancer.

  Uses:

  • Look inside objects, including medical x-rays to look inside bodies
  • In airport security scanners to see what people have in their luggage
• Ultraviolet ( UV )

  Dangers:

  • Uv in sunlight can damage skin cells causing sunburn.
  • Overtime exposure to UV can cause skin cancer
  • UV can also damage the eyes leading to eye conditions

  Uses:

  • To detect security marks made using special pens
  • Inside fluorescent lamps
  • To detect fraud banknotes
  • To disinfect water
• Visible light

  Dangers:

  • None

  Uses:

  • Allows us to see
  • Lights up rooms and streets
  • Photography
• Infrared

  Dangers:

  • Infrared radiation transfers thermal energy too much of this can cause skin burns

  Uses:

  • Cooking
  • Thermal images used by police
  • Short range communication between laptops
  • Remote controls
  • Send information on optical fibres
  • Security systems such as burglar alarms
• Microwaves

  Dangers:

  • Microwaves heat water - so they can heat the water inside our bodies . Heating cells can damage or kill cells

  Uses:

  • Mobile phones
  • Cooking
• Radio waves

  Dangers:

  • None

  Uses:

  • Broadcasting radio and TV programs
  • Communicating with ships , aeroplanes and satellites
• Radiation dose is. Measure of the risk of harm to the human body due to the body being exposed of harmful radiation.

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  The effect that Uv , X-rays and gamma rays have on the body depends of the radiation type and size of the dose .

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  Radiation dose is measured in sieverts ( Sv)