Light as an Electromagnetic Wave

• Frequency


  • The number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit of time
• Wavelength


  • Distance between corresponding points of two consecutive waves
• Magnetism


  • A class of physical phenomena that are mediated by magnetic field
• Electromagnetism 


  • A branch of physics which involves the study of electromagnetic force
• Electromagnetic Spectrum


  • The range of all types of EM radiation
  • Radio
  • Micro
  • Infrared
  • Visible
  • Ultraviolet
  • X-Ray
  • Gamma
• Electromagnetic Waves


  • Transverse waves
  • It is a light
  • Vibrations or oscillations are changes in electrical and magnetic fields at right angles to the direction of wave travel
  • Travel at 300,000,000 meters per second (m/s) through a vacuum.
  • Some of the waves are hazardous to human body tissues
• Application of EM Waves

  • Communication
  • Medical Applications
  • Skin Treatment
  • Navigation & Radar
  • Meteorology
  • Heating or Cooking Food
• Refraction


  • The change in direction of a wave passing from one medium to another caused by its change in speed
• Snell's Law


  • Defined by the relationship between the incident angles and the ratio of the velocities of light in mediums
  • $n_1*$$sin(\theta_1)=$$n_2*$$sin(\theta_2)$
• Refractive Index


  • Value calculated from the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to that in a second medium of greater density
  • $n=$$c/\eta$