Topic: Electromagnetic Spectrum

3.01 use the following units: degree (°), hertz (Hz), metre (m), metre/second (m/s) and second (s)

the units for:

angle = degree (°) 

frequency = hertz (Hz)

wavelength = metre (m)

velocity = metre/second (m/s)

time = second (s) 

 

3.02 explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves

Transverse Waves:

  • A wave that vibrates or oscillates at right angles (perpendicular) to the direction in which energy is transferred/ the wave is moving.
  • g. Light

Longitudinal Waves:

  • A wave that vibrates or oscillates at parallel to (along) the direction in which energy is transferred/ the wave is moving.
  • g. Sound

3.03 know the definitions of amplitude, wavefront, frequency, wavelength and period of a wave

Key Definitions:

  • Wavefront: Created by overlapping lots of different waves. A wavefront is where all the vibrations are in phase and the same distance from the source.
  • Amplitude: The maximum displacement of particles from their equilibrium position.
  • Wavelength: The distance between a particular point on one cycle of the wave and the same point on the next cycle.
  • Frequency: The number of waves passing a particular point per second. Is measured in Hertz (Hz).
  • Time Period: The time it takes for one complete wave to pass a particular point.

3.10 know that light is part of a continuous electromagnetic spectrum that includes radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma ray radiations and that all these waves travel at the same speed in free space

Electromagnetic Spectrum:

  • A continuous spectrum of waves of differing frequency.
  • All electromagnetic waves have the following properties:
    • Transfer energy
    • Are transverse waves
    • Travel at the speed of light in a vacuum
    • Can be reflected and refracted

3.11 know the order of the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of decreasing wavelength and increasing frequency, including the colours of the visible spectrum

Radio Waves

Microwaves

Infrared (IR)

Visible Light

Ultraviolet (UV)

X – Rays

Gamma Rays 

these are written in order of increasing frequency, lowest at the top

and decreasing wavelength, lowest at the bottom.

the colours displayed are in order of lowest frequency to the left highest frequency to the right.  

3.12 Explain some of the uses of electromagnetic radiations, including: radio waves: broadcasting and communications, microwaves: cooking and satellite transmissions, infrared: heaters and night vision equipment, visible light: optical fibres and photography, ultraviolet: fluorescent lamps, x-rays: observing the internal structure of objects and materials, including for medical applications, gamma rays: sterilising food and medical equipment.

uses of electromagnetic radiations, including:
• radio waves: broadcasting and communications
• microwaves: cooking and satellite transmissions
• infrared: heaters and night vision equipment
• visible light: optical fibres and photography
• ultraviolet: fluorescent lamps
• x-rays: observing the internal structure of objects and materials, including for medical applications
• gamma rays: sterilising food and medical equipment.

3.13 explain the detrimental effects of excessive exposure of the human body to electromagnetic waves, including: microwaves: internal heating of body tissue, infrared: skin burns, ultraviolet: damage to surface cells and blindness, gamma rays: cancer, mutation and describe simple protective measures against the risks

the detrimental effects of excessive exposure of the human body to electromagnetic waves:
• microwaves: internal heating of body tissue
• infrared: skin burns
• ultraviolet: damage to surface cells and blindness
• gamma rays: cancer, mutation

to reduce the risks:

  • wear sun glasses, sun cream and stay in shade for UV
  • Wear led clothing for Gamma 
Select a set of flashcards to study:

     Terminology

     Skills and equipment

     Remove Flashcards

Section 1: Principles of chemistry

      a) States of matter

      b) Atoms

      c) Atomic structure

     d) Relative formula masses and molar volumes of gases

     e) Chemical formulae and chemical equations

     f) Ionic compounds

     g) Covalent substances

     h) Metallic crystals

     i) Electrolysis

 Section 2: Chemistry of the elements

     a) The Periodic Table

     b) Group 1 elements: lithium, sodium and potassium

     c) Group 7 elements: chlorine, bromine and iodine

     d) Oxygen and oxides

     e) Hydrogen and water

     f) Reactivity series

     g) Tests for ions and gases

Section 3: Organic chemistry

     a) Introduction

     b) Alkanes

     c) Alkenes

     d) Ethanol

Section 4: Physical chemistry

     a) Acids, alkalis and salts

     b) Energetics

     c) Rates of reaction

     d) Equilibria

Section 5: Chemistry in industry

     a) Extraction and uses of metals

     b) Crude oil

     c) Synthetic polymers

     d) The industrial manufacture of chemicals

Go to Top