Electromagnetic (EM) radiation is a form of energy that surrounds us and takes many forms such as radio waves, microwave, X-ray and gamma rays. Sunlight is also a form of EM energy, but visible light is only a small part of the EM spectrum and contains a wide range of electromagnetic wavelengths.
Electricity and magnetism used to be thought of as separate entities. In 1873, however, the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell developed a unified theory of electromagnetism. The study of electromagnetism is concerned with how electrically charged particles interact with each other and with magnetic fields.
What is Electromagnetism?
Electromagnetism is the science of charge and the forces and fields associated with charge. Electricity and magnetism are two aspects of electromagnetism. For a long time it was thought that electricity and magnetism were separate forces. It was not until the 19th century that both were finally treated as connected phenomena.
Einstein’s special theory of relativity was established in 1905 and states that both are common phenomena. However, at a practical level, electric and magnetic forces behave very differently and are described by different equations. Electrical forces are generated by electrical charges either at rest or in motion. Magnetic forces, on the other hand, are only generated by moving charges and only affect moving charges.
Applications
There are many applications of electromagnetism.
- It serves as the basic operating principle for many household appliances.
- Maglev trains or high-speed trains work on the principle of electromagnetism.
- We use electromagnetic radiation in the communication system to transmit data from the source to the receiver.
- In industries ranging from small to large power plants, we use electromagnetism in at least one phase of their work.
Electromagnetic Force
Electromagnetic forces refer to a type of physical interaction that takes place between electrically charged particles. It acts between charged particles and is the fusion of all magnetic and electric forces. Also, the electromagnetic force can be either attractive or repulsive. Before the invention of electromagnetism people or scientists thought that electricity and magnetism are two different subjects.
After James Clerk Maxwell published A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism in 1873, these views began to change. In his paper he stated that the interaction of positive and negative charges is mediated by a force. This observation laid the foundation for electromagnetism. After that, other scientists like Michael Faraday, Oliver Heaviside and Heinrich Hertz added their thoughts to it and their thoughts were almost the same.
Electromagnetic Field
Electromagnetic fields are combinations of invisible electric and magnetic force fields. These fields are generated by natural phenomena such as the Earth’s magnetic field, and also through human activities, mainly through the use of electricity. Cell phones, power lines, and computer screens are examples of some devices that generate electromagnetic fields.
Most man-made electromagnetic fields move backward at regular intervals and range in frequency from high radio frequencies (cell phones) to moderate frequencies (computer screens) to extremely low frequencies (radio waves) (power lines).
The term static refers to the fields that do not change with time (that is with a frequency of 0 Hz). Static magnetic fields are used in medical imaging and are generated by devices that use direct current.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum is the overall distribution of electromagnetic radiation by frequency or wavelength. Although all electromagnetic waves travel at a speed that is equal to the speed of light in a vacuum, they do so over a wide range of frequency, wavelength, and photon energy.
The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses all electromagnetic radiation and is made up of many sub-ranges, commonly referred to as parts, such as visible light or ultraviolet radiation. Depending on their different practical applications.
There are no precisely accepted boundaries between these adjacent sections, so the ranges tend to overlap. The entire electromagnetic spectrum, from lowest to highest frequency (longest to shortest wavelength), includes all radio waves (e.g., commercial radio and television, microwaves, radar), infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and gamma rays. Almost all frequencies and wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation can be used for spectroscopy.
Electromagnetic Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is an electrical and magnetic disturbance that propagates through space at the speed of light (2.998 108 m/s). It contains no mass or charge but travels in packets of radiant energy called photons or quanta. Examples of EM radiation include radio waves and microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, gamma, and X-rays. Some sources of EM radiation include sources in the cosmos (such as the sun and stars), radioactive elements, and manufactured devices. EM exhibits a dual wave and particle nature.
Electromagnetic radiation propagates in the form of waves with constant speed. The wave properties of EM radiation are found in terms of velocity to wavelength and frequency (cycles per second or Hertz, Hz), expressed in the formula.
(c = velocity, λ = wavelength and v = frequency)
Conclusion
This article is all about electromagnetism and everything related to electromagnetism is described in the article, such as electromagnetic field and electromagnetic force. Moreover the applications of electromagnetism will help you in understanding the terms in an easy way. Hope this electromagnetism article will help you a lot in your academics.
Profile
Settings
Refer your friends
Sign out
