Electromagnetic Radiations

Radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, and gamma rays are all examples of electromagnetic (EM) radiation, which is found all around us. Although visible light is a type of EM energy, it is only a small part of the EM spectrum, which includes a wide range of electromagnetic wavelengths.

Electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, visible light, and gamma rays, are electromagnetic waves that flow at the universal speed of light across open space or via a material medium in the form of electric and magnetic fields. Time-varying electric and magnetic fields are mutually coupled at right angles and perpendicular to the motion direction in such a wave. The intensity and frequency v of the time fluctuation of the electric and magnetic fields define an electromagnetic wave.

What is Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) and how does it work?

Electromagnetic radiation is a type of energy created by the flow of electrically charged particles through matter or vacuum, as well as oscillating magnetic and electric disturbances. The magnetic and electric fields intersect at 90°, and the combined waves travel perpendicular to both the electric and magnetic oscillating fields that cause the disturbance.

Theoretical Electromagnetics

Previously, magnetism and electricity were thought to be independent forces. Clerk Maxwell, a Scottish physicist, established a unified theory of electromagnetic in the year 1873. Its research is focused on how electrically charged particles interact with one another and with the magnetic field. In the points mentioned, the main electromagnetic interactions are described.

Magnetic poles, like electric charges, come in pairs that resist and attract one another.

The square of the distance between two electric charges is inversely proportional to the force of repulsion or attraction between them.

A magnetic field is created when an electric field is in motion.

According to the right thumb rule, if a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field and a force F is applied, then the thumb denotes the direction of motion and other fingers give the direction of the magnetic field due to the current.

Electromagnetic Radiation Properties

Electron radiation is emitted as photons when electromagnetic radiation occurs. These are quantized harmonic waves or bundles of light energy that travel at the speed of light. The energy is then classified into several groups based on the wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum. Magnetic and electric waves travel perpendicular to each other and have wavelength, amplitude, and frequency properties. In the points mentioned, some basic features of Electromagnetic Radiation are described.

They have the ability to traverse through empty space. Other than electromagnetic waves, all waves must pass through a matter. Sound waves, for example, require the passage of a solid, liquid, or gas.

Light travels at a constant speed of 2.99792458 x 108 m/s. The sign ” is widely used to represent wavelength. It’s a measurement of the distance between troughs and crests.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum is the frequency range of EM radiations, as well as the wavelengths and photon energies associated with them. Gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, radio waves, and microwaves are all part of it. Frequencies, wavelengths, and photon energy levels vary widely in electromagnetic radiation. In a vacuum, these waves travel at the speed of light.

Electromagnetic radiation has a huge range of wavelengths and frequencies. The electromagnetic spectrum refers to this range. In order of decreasing wavelength and rising energy and frequency, the electromagnetic spectrum is divided into seven areas. Radio waves, microwaves, infrared (IR), visible light, ultraviolet (UV), X-rays, and gamma rays are frequent terms. Lower-energy radiation, such as radio waves, is typically described in terms of frequency; microwaves, infrared, visible, and UV light are typically expressed in terms of wavelength; and higher-energy radiation, such as X-rays and gamma rays, are typically expressed in terms of energy per photon.

Radio waves

Radio waves are the lowest frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum, with frequency up to 30 billion hertz (GHz) and wavelengths longer than 10 millimetres (0.4 inches). Radio is largely used for speech and data transmission, as well as entertainment media.

Microwaves

Microwaves are in the EM spectrum between radio and infrared. They have wavelengths of about 10 mm (0.4 inches) to 100 micrometres (m), or 0.004 inches), with frequencies ranging from around 3 GHz to about 30 trillion hertz, or 30 terahertz (THz). Microwaves are utilised in high-bandwidth communications, radar, microwave ovens, and industrial applications as a heat source.

Infrared rays

Infrared is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies between microwaves and visible light. IR wavelengths range from 100 m (0.004 inches) to 740 nanometers (nm), or 0.00003 inches, with frequencies ranging from 30 THz to 400 THz. Although infrared light is invisible to the naked eye, it can be felt as heat if the intensity is high enough.

Visible light

Between IR and UV, visible light is found in the middle of the electromagnetic spectrum. It has wavelengths of 740 nm (0.00003 inches) to 380 nm and frequencies of 400 THz to 800 THz (.000015 inches). Visible light, in a broader sense, refers to the wavelengths that are visible to most human eyes.

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet light is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies between visible light and X-rays. It has wavelengths of about 380 nm (.000015 inches) to about 10 nm and frequencies of roughly 8 1014 to 3 1016 Hz (0.0000004 inches). Although UV light is a component of sunshine, it is not visible to the naked eye. It has a wide range of medical and industrial uses, yet it can harm living tissue.

X rays

Soft X-rays and hard X-rays are the two types of X-rays, respectively. The area of the electromagnetic spectrum between UV and gamma rays is known as soft X-rays. Soft X-rays have wavelengths of around 10 nm (4 107 inches) to about 100 picometers (pm), or 4 108 inches, and frequency of about 3 1016 to roughly 1018 Hz. Hard X-rays and gamma rays are in the same region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The sole difference between them is their source: speeding electrons make X-rays, while atomic nuclei produce gamma rays.

Gamma rays

Gamma rays are in the spectrum just above soft X-rays. Gamma-rays have wavelengths of less than 100 pm (4 109 inches) and frequency larger than roughly 1018 Hz. When delivered in carefully calibrated doses to limited areas, gamma radiation causes damage to living tissue, making it beneficial for destroying cancer cells. Humans, on the other hand, are very vulnerable to uncontrolled exposure.

Waves and fields

When an atomic particle, such as an electron, is accelerated by an electric field and moves, EM radiation is produced. The movement causes oscillating electric and magnetic fields, which travel in a bundle of light energy called a photon at right angles to each other. In a vacuum, photons travel at the fastest possible speed in the universe: 186,282 miles per second (299,792,458 metres per second), also known as the speed of light. Waves have specific properties, such as frequency, wavelength, and energy.

The distance between two consecutive peaks of a wave is measured in wavelengths. This measurement is in metres (m) or fractions of metres (m). The number of waves that develop in a particular amount of time is known as frequency. It’s commonly expressed in hertz, which is the number of wave cycles each second (Hz). According to the University of Wisconsin, a shorter wavelength signifies a greater frequency since one cycle can pass in a shorter amount of time. Similarly, because each cycle takes longer to complete, a longer wavelength has a lower frequency.

Conclusion

Electromagnetic radiation are energy derived due to movement of electrically charged particles in a magnetic field. The radiations are released in the form of photons during electromagnetic radiations. For an electromagnetic radiation, the angle between the electrical and magnetic wave is a right angle, thus they travel perpendicular to each other creating disturbance. Trough and crest are formed due to the waves. The distance between the trough and crest is given as the wavelength.