Electromagnetic Spectrum:
At the time Maxwell predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves were the visible light waves. The existence of ultraviolet and infrared waves was barely established. By the end of the nineteenth century, X-rays and gamma rays had also been discovered. We now know that, electromagnetic waves include visible light waves, X-rays, gamma rays, radio-waves, microwaves, ultraviolet and infrared waves. The classification of electromagnetic waves according to frequency is the electromagnetic spectrum. There is no sharp division between one kind of wave and the next. The classification is based roughly on how the waves are produced and/or detected.
We briefly describe these different types of electromagnetic waves, in order of decreasing wavelengths.
Radiowaves:
Radiowaves are produced by the accelerated motion of charges in conducting wires. They are used in radio and television communication systems. They are generally in the frequency range from 500 kHz to about 1000 MHz. The AM (amplitude modulated) band is from 530 kHz to 1710 kHz. Higher frequencies upto 54 MHz are used for short wavebands. TV waves range from 54 MHz to 890 MHz. The FM (frequency modulated) radio band extends from 88 MHz to 108 MHz. Cellular phones use radiowaves to transmit voice communication in the ultrahigh frequency (UHF) band.
Microwaves:
Microwaves [short wavelength radiowaves (λ = 0.001m to 0.1m) with frequency in the gigahertz (GHz) range, are produced by special vacuum tubes (called Klystrons, Magnetrons, and Gunn diodes). Due to their short wavelengths, they are suitable for the radar systems used in aircraft navigation. Radar also provides the basis for the speed guns used in time fast balls, tennis-serves, and automobiles. Microwave ovens are an interesting domestic application of these waves. In such ovens, the frequency of the microwaves is selected to match the resonant frequency of water molecules so that energy from the waves is transferred efficiently to the kinetic energy of the molecules. This raises the temperature of any food containing water. Our objective is to cook food or warm it up. All food items such as fruit, vegetables, meat, cereals etc., contain water as a constituent. Now, what does it mean when we say that a certain object has become warmer? When the temperature of a body rises, the energy of the random motion of atoms and molecules increases and the molecules travel or vibrate or rotate with higher energies. The frequency of rotation of water molecules is about 3 gigaherzts (GHz). If water receives microwaves of this frequency, its molecules absorb this radiation, which is equivalent to heating up water. These molecules share this energy with neighbouring food molecules, heating up the food.
One should use porcelain vessels and not metal containers in a microwave oven because of the danger of getting a shock from accumulated electric charges. Metals may also melt from heating. The porcelain container remains unaffected and cool, because its large molecules vibrate and rotate with much smaller frequencies, and thus can not absorb microwaves. Hence, they do not get heated up.
Infrared Rays:
Infrared rays are produced by hot bodies and molecules. Water molecules present in most materials readily absorb infrared waves (many other molecules, for example C02,NH3 also absorb infrared waves). After absorption, their thermal motion increases, that is, they heat up and heat their surroundings. Infrared lamps are used in physical therapy. Infrared radiation also plays an important role in maintaining the Earth’s warmth or average temperature through the green house effect. Incoming visible light (which passes relatively easily through the atmosphere) is absorbed by the Earth surface and radiated as infrared (larger wavelength) radiations. This radiation is trapped by green house gases such as Carbon Dioxide and water vapour. Infrared detectors are used in Earth satellites, both for military purposes and to observe growth of crops. Electronic devices (for example semiconductor light emitting diodes) also emit infrared and are widely used in the remote switches of household electronic systems such as TV sets, video receivers and wi-fi-systems.
Visible Rays:
It is the most familiar form of electromagnetic waves. It is the part of the spectrum that is detected by the human eye. It runs from about 4 × 1014 Hz to about 7 × 1014 Hz or a wavelength range of about 700 – 400 nm. Visible light emitted or reflected from objects around us, provides us information about the world. Our eyes are sensitive to this range of wavelengths. Different animals are sensitive to different range of wavelengths. For example, snakes can detect infrared waves, and the ‘visible’ range of many insects extends well into the ultraviolet.
Ultraviolet Rays:
It covers wavelengths ranging from about 4 × 10-7 m (400 nm) down to 6 × 10-10 m (0.6 nm). Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is produced by special lamps and very hot bodies. The Sun is an important source of ultraviolet light. But fortunately, most of it is absorbed in the Ozone layer in the atmosphere at an altitude of about 40-50 km. UV light in large quantities has harmful effects on humans. Exposure to UV radiation induces the production of more melanin, causing tanning of the skin. UV radiation is absorbed by ordinary glass. Hence, one cannot get tanned or sunburn through glass windows.
Welders wear special glass goggles or face masks with glass windows to protect their eyes from large amount of UV produced by welding arcs. Due to its shorter wavelengths, UV radiations can be focussed into very narrow beams for high precision applications such as LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery. UV lamps are used to kill germs in water purifiers.
Ozone layer in the atmosphere plays a protective role and hence its depletion by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) gas (such as freon) is a matter of international concern.
X-rays:
Beyond the UV region of the electromagnetic spectrum lies the X-ray region. We are familiar with X rays because of its medical applications. It covers wavelength from about 10-8 m (10 mm) down to 10-13 m (10-4 nm). One common way to generate X-rays is to bombard a metal target by high energy electrons. X-rays are used as a diagnostic tool in medicine and as a treatment for certain forms of cancer. Because X-rays damage or destroy living tissues and organisms, care must be taken to avoid unnecessary or over exposure.
Gamma Rays:
They lie in the upper frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum and have wavelength of from about 10-10 m to less than 10-14 m, This high frequency radiation is produced in nuclear reactions and also emitted by radioactive nuclei. They are used in medicine to destroy cancer cells.
