Electromagnetic radiation waves

• Waves are three dimensional

• Waves vibrate in all planes around a center line.

• The waves have high points called “crests.”

• Waves also have low points called “troughs.”

• *The distance from one crest to the next crest is called a “wavelength.”

• *The number of waves passing a given point in one second is called the “frequency.”

wavelength

Remember radio waves are long…and gamma rays are small

Radio-TV -Microwave- Infrared - VISIBLE -Ultraviolet -X-rays - Gamma- Cosmic

Radio(Longest electromagnetic waves)

• Emitted by– Astronomical Objects– Radio Station

Transmitters

• Detected by– Ground based radio

telescopes– *If you turn on a radio, it

will convert the radio wave energy into sound energy.

Microwave

• Emitted by:– Gas clouds collapsing

into stars– Microwave Ovens– Radar Stations– Cell Phones

• Detected by– Microwave Telescopes– Food (heated)– Cell phones– Radar (systems)

Infrared(Heat or Thermal)

Are you a source of infrared? YES you are!

• Emitted by– Sun and stars (Near)– TV Remote Controls– Food Warming Lights

(Thermal)– *Everything at room

temperature or above,=HEAT

• Detected by– Infrared Cameras– TVs, VCRs,– Your skin

VisibleEach color is a different size wave.

Red the longest & violet the shortest• Emitted by

– The sun and other astronomical objects

– Laser pointers– Light bulbs

• Detected by– Cameras

(film or digital)– Human eyes– Plants (red light)– Telescopes

UltravioletSunburn / black light

• Emitted by– Tanning booths (A)– The sun (A)– Black light bulbs (B)– UV lamps

• Detected by– Space based UV

detectors– UV Cameras– Flying insects (flies)

X-ray• Emitted by

– Astronomical objects – X-ray machines– CAT scan machines– Older televisions– Radioactive minerals– Airport luggage

scanners

• Detected by– Space based X-ray

detectors– X-ray film– CCD detectors

Gamma Ray(Short electromagnetic waves but more energetic)

• Emitted by– Radioactive materials– Exploding nuclear

weapons– Gamma-ray bursts– Solar flares

• Detected by• --Geiger counters

– Gamma detectors and astronomical satellites

– Medical imaging detectors

• A great question!• Radio waves= (Buildings to human size);• Microwaves

(Humans-beetles);• Infrared waves (Eye of a needle);Visible waves (microscopic size)!

WOW! All the rest are the size of molecules, atoms, atomic nuclei and smaller..