5.3.1 properties of electromagnetic waves

• wavelength

  • distance between 2 consecutive points
  • gamma rays have the shortest wavelength
  • radio waves have the longest wavelength
• Electromagnetic spectrum - highest to lowest frequency, shortest to longest wavelength

  • gamma
  • X-rays
  • UV light
  • visible light
  • infrared
  • microwave
  • radio waves
• wave energy - gamma rays carry the most amount of energy than any other wave in the electromagnetic spectrum
• Fill the gaps

  A) visible light

  B) radio

  C) gamma

  D) infra

  
• Production of Electromagnetic waves - Electrical circuits:

  • oscillations (repeating variations - AC current) can produce radio waves
  • when radio waves are absorbed, they can create an alternating current with the same frequency as the radio wave itself
  • this means that radio waves can lead to oscillations in an electrical circuit
• Production of Electromagnetic waves - change in atoms:

  • change in atoms and the nuclei can cause electromagnetic waves to be generated or absorbed over a wide frequency range
  • gamma rays originate from changes in the nucleus of an atom
• Gamma rays have (in comparison to the other electromagnetic waves)

  • the most energy
  • the shortest wavelength
  • the highest frequency
• When radio waves are absorbed, they can create an alternating current with the same frequency as the radio wave itself.