I.

Introduction
What is light? This question has been asked by humans for centuries, but there was no answer until
electricity and magnetism were unified into electromagnetism, as described by Maxwell’s equations. These
equations show that a time-varying magnetic field acts as a source of electric field and that a time-varying
electric field acts as a source of magnetic field. These E (electric) and B (magnetic) fields can sustain each
other, forming an electromagnetic wave that propagates through space. Visible light emitted by the glowing
filament of a light bulb is one example of an electromagnetic wave; other kinds of electromagnetic waves
are produced by TV and radio stations, x-ray machines, and radioactive nuclei.

In this chapter we will use Maxwell’s equations as the theoretical basis for understanding
electromagnetic waves. We will find that these waves carry both energy and momentum. In sinusoidal
electromagnetic waves, the E and B fields are sinusoidal functions of time and position, with a definite
frequency and wavelength. Visible light, radio, x rays, and other types of electromagnetic waves differ only
in their frequency and wavelength. Our study of optics in the following chapters will be based in part on the
electromagnetic nature of light. Unlike waves on a string or sound waves in a fluid, electromagnetic waves
do not require a material medium; the light that you see coming from the stars at night has traveled without
difficulty across tens or hundreds of light-years of (nearly) empty space. Nonetheless, electromagnetic
waves and mechanical waves have much in common and are described in much the same language.

These circular disk antennas, each 25 m in diameter, are

pointed to receive radio waves from out in space. Radio waves are
electromagnetic (EM) waves that have frequencies from a few
hundred Hz to about 100 MHz. Maxwell predicted the existence of
EM waves from his famous equations, which are a magnificent
summary of electromagnetism.

Figure 1. Circular Desk Antenna

The culmination of electromagnetic theory in the nineteenth century was

the prediction, and the experimental verification that waves of electromagnetic
fields could travel through space. This achievement opened a whole new world
of communication: first the wireless telegraph, then radio and television, and
more recently cell phones and remote-control devices, and it yielded the
spectacular prediction that light is an electromagnetic wave. The theoretical
prediction of electromagnetic waves was the work of the Scottish physicist
James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879), who unified, in one magnificent theory, all
the phenomena of electricity and magnetism.
Figure 2. James Clerk Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell was the first person to truly understand the fundamental nature of light. He
also made major contributions to thermodynamics, optics, astronomy, and color photography. Albert
Einstein described Maxwell’s accomplishments as “the most profound and the most fruitful that physics has
experienced since the time of Newton.”
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 In Grade 9 Physics, you were introduced to the forms and sources of energy. You also learned how
electrical energy is generated, transmitted, and distributed. In this lesson, you will learn about the different
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This lesson will lead you to understand how electromagnetic
waves transport energy. It also consists of activities that will enrich your understanding on the application of
electromagnetic waves.

II. Learning Competencies/Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
• compare the relative wavelengths, frequency and energy of different forms of
electromagnetic waves, and
• cite examples of practical applications of the different regions of EM waves, such as the use
of radio waves in telecommunications.

III. Pre-Assessment
Direction. Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following could generate an electromagnetic wave?
A. any moving charge C. only a charge moving in a straight line
B. any accelerating charge D. only a charge with changing acceleration

2. Which of the following is NOT true for electromagnetic waves?

A. they transport energy
B. they can be reflected
C. they consist of changing electric and magnetic fields
D. they travel at different speeds in vacuum, depending on their frequency

3. The electric field for a plane electromagnetic wave traveling in the +y direction is shown. Consider a
point where E is in the +z direction. Where is the direction of the B field?

A. in the−x direction and in phase with the E field

B. in the +x direction and in phase with the E field
C. in the +z direction and in phase with the E field
D. in the +x direction and one-fourth of a cycle out of phase with the E field

4. In a plane electromagnetic wave in vacuum, what is the ratio E/B of the amplitudes in SI units of the
two fields?
A. the speed of light C. a decreasing function of frequency
B. an increasing function of energy D. an increasing function of frequency

5. Which of the following statements is correct about electromagnetic waves?

A. blue light has a higher frequency than x rays
B. radio waves have higher frequency than gamma rays
C. ultraviolet light has a longer wavelength than infrared
D. gamma rays have higher frequency than infrared waves

6. Consider: radio waves (r), visible light (v), infrared light (i), x-rays (x), and ultraviolet light (u). Which
of the following is the correct sequence in the order of increasing frequency?
A. r, v, i, x, u B. r, i, v, u, x C. i, r, v, u, x D. i, v, r, u, x

7. Which of the following is in the order of increasing wavelength for blue (b), green (g), red (r), and
yellow (y) light?
A. r, y, g, b B. r, g, y, b C. g, y, b, r D. b, g, y, r
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 8. What is the frequency of radio waves of wavelength 3 cm?
A. 1 MHz B. 9 MHz C. 100 MHz D. 10,000 MHz

9. A certain radio station broadcasts at a frequency of 675 kHz. What is the wavelength of the radio
waves?
A. 280 m B. 324 m C. 400 m D. 444 m

10. What type of electromagnetic waves is used in radar?

A. microwaves B. infrared rays C. radio waves D. ultraviolet ray

III. Reading Resources

The Electromagnetic Wave Theory

Did you send text messages to somebody today? Or have you ever tried cooking in a microwave
oven? Did you know that these previously mentioned human activities make use of microwaves?
Microwaves carry energy, and so with the other kinds of electromagnetic waves. But what are
electromagnetic waves? How can these waves become useful to us?

When either an electric (E) or a magnetic (B) field is changing with time, a field of the other kind is
induced in adjacent regions of space. We are led (as Maxwell was) to consider the possibility of an
electromagnetic disturbance, consisting of time-varying electric and magnetic fields, that can propagate
through space from one region to another, even when there is no matter in the intervening region. Such a
disturbance, if it exists, will have the properties of a wave, and an appropriate term is electromagnetic
wave. Such waves do exist; radio and television transmission, light, x rays, and many other kinds of
radiation are examples of electromagnetic waves.

In the early days of electromagnetic theory (the early 19th century), two different units of electric
charge were used: one for electrostatics and the other for magnetic phenomena involving currents. In the
system of units used at that time, these two units of charge had different physical dimensions. Their ratio
had units of velocity, and measurements showed that the ratio had a numerical value that was precisely
equal to the speed of light, At the time, physicists regarded this as an extraordinary coincidence and had no
idea how to explain it.

In searching to understand this result, Maxwell proved in 1865 that an electromagnetic disturbance
should propagate in free space with a speed equal to that of light, 3.00 × 108 m/s, and hence that light
waves were likely to be electromagnetic in nature. At the same time, he discovered that the basic principles
of electromagnetism can be expressed in terms of the four equations that we now call Maxwell’s
equations. These four equations are:
(1) Gauss’s law for electric fields
(2) Gauss’s law for magnetic fields, showing the absence of magnetic monopoles
(3) Ampere’s law, including displacement current
(4) Faraday’s law

Maxwell’s equations can also be used to show that in order for a point charge to produce
electromagnetic waves, the charge must accelerate. In fact, it is a general result of Maxwell’s equations
that every accelerated charge radiates electromagnetic energy.

The Electric and Magnetic Fields Together

According to Maxwell, a magnetic field will be produced in empty space if there is a changing
electric field. Accelerating electrons produce electromagnetic waves. These waves are a combination of
electric and magnetic fields. A changing magnetic field produces an electric field and a changing
electric field produces a magnetic field. As accelerated electrons produce an electric field of a wave, the

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varying electric field produces the wave’s magnetic field. Both the electric field and the magnetic field
oscillate perpendicular to each other and to the direction of the propagating wave.

Figure 3. Electromagnetic wave Figure 3.1. Electromagnetic wave (focused)

Our electromagnetic wave must obey both Ampere's law (a magnetic field is produced by an electric
current or by a changing electric field) and Faraday's law (an electric field is produced by a changing
magnetic field), so:
1 1
𝑐𝑐 = = = 3.00 × 108 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠
�𝜖𝜖0 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 �(8.85 × 10−12 𝐶𝐶 2 /𝑁𝑁 ∙ 𝑚𝑚2 )(4𝜋𝜋 × 10−7 𝑁𝑁/𝐴𝐴2 )
(speed of electromagnetic waves in vacuum)

where 𝜖𝜖0 is the permittivity of free space or electric constant and 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 is the permeability of free space
or magnetic constant.

Electromagnetic waves with macroscopic wavelengths were first produced in the laboratory in 1887
by the German physicist Heinrich Hertz. He then found the speed of the waves from the wavelength–
frequency relationship, 𝑣𝑣 = 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆. He established that their speed was the same as that of light; this verified
Maxwell’s theoretical prediction directly. The SI unit of frequency then is named in honor of Hertz: One
hertz (1 Hz) equals one cycle per second.

All electromagnetic waves can travel through a medium but unlike other types of waves, they can
also travel in vacuum. They travel in vacuum at a speed of 3.00 × 108 m/s and denoted as c, the speed of
light. The modern value of the speed of light, which we denote by the symbol c, is 299,792,458 m/s. This
value is the basis of our standard of length: one meter is defined to be the distance that light travels in
1/299,792,458 second. For our lesson purposes, c = 3.00 × 108 m/s is sufficiently accurate. The wave
speed, frequency, and wavelength are related by the following equation:

𝒗𝒗 = 𝝀𝝀𝝀𝝀 or 𝒄𝒄 = 𝝀𝝀𝝀𝝀 (wave speed)

where 𝑣𝑣 is the wave speed, 𝑐𝑐 (speed of light) expressed in meters per second, the frequency 𝑓𝑓 is
expressed in Hertz or s-1 and the wavelength 𝜆𝜆 is expressed in meters. Since all the EM waves have the
same speed and that is equal to the speed of light, as wavelength decreases, the frequency of the wave
increases. Through the years, the advancement on the knowledge about electromagnetic waves led us to a
modern technological world.

Key Properties of Electromagnetic Waves

We chose a simple wave for our study in order to avoid mathematical complications, but this special
case illustrates several important features of all electromagnetic waves:
1. The wave is transverse; both E and B are perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the wave.
The electric and magnetic fields are also perpendicular to each other.
𝑬𝑬
2. There is a definite ratio between the magnitudes of E and B, which is the speed of light c. (𝒄𝒄 = )
𝑩𝑩
3. The wave travels in vacuum with a definite and unchanging speed.
4. Unlike mechanical waves, which need the oscillating particles of a medium such as water or air to
transmit a wave, electromagnetic waves require no medium. What is "waving" in an electromagnetic
wave are the electric and magnetic fields.
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Example 1. What is the frequency of radio waves with wavelength of 20 m? Assume that the waves
propagate in a vacuum.
Given: 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑐𝑐 = 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆
8
𝑣𝑣 = 𝑐𝑐 = 3.00 × 10 𝑚𝑚 ∕ 𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑐 3.00 × 108 𝑚𝑚 ∕ 𝑠𝑠
𝑓𝑓 = = = 1.50 × 107 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻
𝜆𝜆 = 20 𝑚𝑚 𝜆𝜆 20 𝑚𝑚
𝑓𝑓 = ?

Example 2. What is the frequency of light waves with wavelength of 5.00 × 10−7 m?
Given: 𝑣𝑣 = 𝑐𝑐 = 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆
𝑣𝑣 = 𝑐𝑐 = 3.00 × 108 𝑚𝑚 ∕ 𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑐 3.00 × 108 𝑚𝑚 ∕ 𝑠𝑠
𝑓𝑓 = = = 6.00 × 1014 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻
𝜆𝜆 = 5.00 × 10−7 𝑚𝑚 𝜆𝜆 5.00 × 10−7 𝑚𝑚
𝑓𝑓 = ?

Example 3. Calculate the wavelength (a) of a 60 Hz EM wave, (b) of a 93.3 MHz (mega x106 Hertz) FM
radio wave, and (c) of a beam of a visible red light from a laser at frequency 4.74 × 1014 Hz.
(a) (b) (c)
8
𝑐𝑐 3.00 × 10 𝑚𝑚⁄𝑠𝑠 8
𝑐𝑐 3.00 × 10 𝑚𝑚⁄𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑐 3.00 × 108 𝑚𝑚⁄𝑠𝑠
𝜆𝜆 = = 𝜆𝜆 = = 𝜆𝜆 = =
𝑓𝑓 60 𝑠𝑠 −1 𝑓𝑓 93.3 × 106 𝑠𝑠 −1 𝑓𝑓 4.74 × 1014 𝑠𝑠 −1
𝜆𝜆 = 5.0 × 106 𝑚𝑚 = 5000 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝜆𝜆 = 3.22 𝑚𝑚 𝜆𝜆 = 6.33 × 10−7 𝑚𝑚 = 633 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛

Example 4. The antenna of a cell phone is often ¼ wavelength long. A particular cellphone has an 8.5 cm
long straight rod for its antenna. Estimate the operating frequency of this phone.
1
The antenna is 𝜆𝜆 long, so 𝜆𝜆 = 4(8.5 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐) = 34 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 = 0.34 𝑚𝑚.
4
𝑐𝑐 3.00×108 𝑚𝑚∕𝑠𝑠
Then, 𝑓𝑓 = = = 8.82 × 108 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 = 882 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀.
𝜆𝜆 0.34 𝑚𝑚

Example 5. When you speak on the telephone to a friend some 4000 km away, how long does it take the
signal carrying your voice to travel that distance?
The signal is carried on a telephone wire or in the air via satellite. In either case, it is
electromagnetic wave. Electronics as well as the wire or cable slow things down, but as a rough estimate
we take the speed to be 𝑐𝑐 = 3.00 × 108 m/s.
Since, speed = distance/time, then time = distance/speed, so:
𝑥𝑥 4.0×106 𝑚𝑚 1
𝑡𝑡 = = = 1.3 × 10−2 𝑠𝑠 or about 𝑠𝑠.
𝑣𝑣 3.0×108 𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑠 100
Such a small amount of time normally goes unnoticed.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum encompasses electromagnetic waves of all frequencies and
wavelengths. Figure below shows approximate wavelength and frequency ranges for the most commonly
encountered portion of the spectrum. Despite vast differences in their uses and means of production, these
are all electromagnetic waves with the same propagation speed (in vacuum) 𝑐𝑐 = 299,792,458 m/s.
Electromagnetic waves may differ in frequency and wavelength but the relationship in vacuum 𝑐𝑐 = 𝜆𝜆𝜆𝜆 holds
for each.

We can detect only a very small segment of this spectrum directly through our sense of sight. We
call this range visible light. Its wavelengths range from about 380 to 750 nm (380 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 750 × 10−9 𝑚𝑚), with
corresponding frequencies from about 790 to 400 THz (790 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 400 × 1014 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻). Different parts of the visible
spectrum evoke in humans the sensations of different colors. Table below gives the approximate
wavelengths for colors in the visible spectrum.

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 Figure 4. The electromagnetic spectrum. The frequencies and wavelengths found in nature extend over
such a wide range that we have to use a logarithmic scale to show all important bands. The boundaries
between bands are somewhat arbitrary.

Figure 5: Electromagnetic Spectrum (Wavelength and frequency)

Figure 6: Electromagnetic Spectrum (Wavelength and energy)

The electromagnetic spectrum is a continuum of electromagnetic waves arranged according to

frequency and wavelength. It is a gradual progression from the waves of lowest frequencies to the waves of
highest frequencies. According to increasing frequency, the EM spectrum includes: radio waves,
microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. These waves do not have exact
dividing region. The different types of electromagnetic waves are defined by the amount of energy carried
by/possessed by the photons. Photons are bundles of wave energy. The energy (in Joules) of a photon is
given by the equation:

𝑬𝑬 = 𝒉𝒉𝒉𝒉 (energy of a photon)

where ℎ is the Planck’s Constant and 𝑓𝑓 is the frequency of the EM wave. The value of the Planck’s
constant is 6.63 × 10−34 Joules per second. From among the EM waves, the gamma rays have photons of
high energies while radio waves have photons with the lowest energies. With regards to wavelength, radio
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waves can be likened to the size of a football field while gamma rays are as small as the nuclei of an atom.

Table 1: Wavelengths, frequencies and energies of electromagnetic (EM) waves

EM wave Wavelength (m) Frequency (Hz) Energy (J)
Radio wave > 1 × 10 −1
< 3 × 109 < 2 × 10−24
Microwave 1 × 10−3 − 1 × 10−1 3 × 109 − 3 × 1011 2 × 10−24 − 2 × 10−22
Infrared 7 × 10 − 1 × 10
−7 −3
3 × 1011 − 4 × 1014 2 × 10−22 − 3 × 10−19
Visible light 4 × 10−7 − 7 × 10−7 4 × 1014 − 7.5 × 1014 3 × 10−19 − 5 × 10−19
UV ray 1 × 10−8 − 4 × 10−7 7.5 × 1014 − 3 × 1016 5 × 10−19 − 2 × 10−17
X-ray 1 × 10−11 − 1 × 10−8 3 × 1016 − 3 × 1019 2 × 10−17 − 2 × 10−14
Gamma ray < 1 × 10−11 > 3 × 1019 > 2 × 10−14

Our system of global communication, for example, depends on radio waves: AM radio uses waves
with frequencies from 5.4 × 105 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 to 1.6 × 106 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 to while FM radio broadcasts are at frequencies from
8.8 × 107 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻 to 1.08 × 108 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻. (Television broadcasts use frequencies that bracket the FM band.)
Microwaves are also used for communication (for example, by cellular phones and wireless networks) and
for weather radar (at frequencies near 3.0 × 109 𝐻𝐻𝐻𝐻). Many cameras have a device that emits a beam of
infrared radiation; by analyzing the properties of the infrared radiation reflected from the subject, the
camera determines the distance to the subject and automatically adjusts the focus. X rays are able to
penetrate through flesh, which makes them invaluable in dentistry and medicine. Gamma rays, the
shortest-wavelength type of electromagnetic radiation, are used in medicine to destroy cancer cells.

Figure 7. Ultraviolet vision. Many insects and birds can see ultraviolet wavelengths that humans cannot. As
an example, the left-hand photo shows how black-eyed Susans (genus Rudbeckia) look to us. The right-
hand photo (in false color), taken with an ultraviolet-sensitive camera, shows how these same flowers
appear to the bees that pollinate them. Note the prominent central spot that is invisible to humans.
Similarly, many birds with ultraviolet vision - including budgies, parrots, and peacock - have ultraviolet
patterns on their bodies that make them even more vivid to each other than they appear to us.

Radio Waves
Radio waves have the longest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are produced by
making electrons vibrate in an antenna. They are used to transmit sound and picture information over long
distances. Radio waves have a very wide range of wavelengths. The whole region of the radio waves is
divided into smaller regions or wavebands. Each waveband is allocated by law to a specific radio service.
Low frequency waves are suitable for communication over great distances. But the curvature of the earth
limits the range to about 80 kilometers. To extend the range, a repeater is used. The repeater receives the
signal and re-transmits it to the receiving station. High frequency waves can be reflected by the ionosphere.
This enables the waves to be transmitted over great distances.
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 Figure 8. Transmitting Radio Waves

Microwaves
Microwaves have smaller wavelengths than radio waves. They are used in satellite
communications, radar, television transmission, and cooking. Microwaves can penetrate the atmosphere of
the earth. This is the reason why they are used for satellite communications. Communication satellites
travel around the earth at an altitude of 35, 000 km above the equator. They move at a speed of 11 300
km/h and revolve around the earth every 24 hours, the same rate as the rotation of the earth. This makes
them appear to be stationary when seen on Earth. Antennae are mounted to point in fixed directions towards
these satellites. Microwaves signals are transmitted by an antenna to a satellite which amplifies and re-
transmits the signal to an antenna in other parts of the world. This is how we communicate with the rest of
the world.

Figure 9. Satellite Communication

Microwaves have short wavelengths and are reflected by small objects. This property is used in
radars. Radar is the acronym of radio detection and ranging. A radar system is consisting of an antenna,
transmitter, and a receiver. The antenna whirls around continuously to scan the surrounding area. The
transmitter sends out a narrow beam of microwaves in short pulses. A distant object reflects some of the
signal back to the receiver. The direction to which the signal was received gives the direction of the object.
The distance of the object can be calculated from the time lag between the transmitted pulse and the
reflected pulse.

Figure 10. Radio Detection and Ranging

Page 8 of 13
 Microwaves are also used to transmit television news coverage from mobile broadcast vehicles
back to the station. The news crew can also set up a small antenna to send signals to a communication
satellite. This is how news are broadcasted and watched live around the world. A cell phone is a radio
transmitter and receiver that use microwaves. Cellular phones depend on overlapping network of cells or
areas of land several kilometers in diameter. Each cell has its tower that receives and sends microwave
signals. The figure below will give you further understanding on the process.

Figure 11. Transmission and Reception of signals by a cellular phone

In a microwave oven, foods absorb certain microwave frequencies very strongly. The microwaves
penetrate the food being heated. It will agitate the water molecules within the food, thus creating molecular
friction which then produces heat that will cook it.

Figure 12. Microwave oven

Infrared
Infrared radiation lies beyond the red end of the visible light. It is emitted by all objects. The amount
and wavelength of radiation depend on temperature. Below 500°C, an object emits only infrared radiation.
Above 500°C, an object glows and emits both infrared and some visible light. Our bodies radiate infrared
and under infrared camera or a night vision goggle, our images appear in variety of colors. The differences
in color determine the differences in temperature. For example, shades of blue and green indicate regions
of colder temperature; and red and yellow indicate warmer temperature.

Figure 13. Infrared image of a dog

Page 9 of 13
 The following are some useful applications of IR radiation:
1. Some night-vision goggles use IR.
2. Infrared remote controls are used in TVs, video, cassette recorders, and other electronic
appliances.
3. Infrared scanners are used to show the temperature variation of the body. This can be used
for medical diagnosis.
4. Infrared photographs taken from a satellite with special films provide useful details of the
vegetation on the Earth’s surface.
5. Some autofocus cameras have transmitter that sends out infrared pulses. The pulses are
reflected by the object to be photographed back to the camera. The distance of the object is
calculated by the time lag between the sending and receiving of pulses. The lens is then
driven by a built-in motor to adjust to get the correct focus of the object.

The Visible Spectrum

When white light passes through a prism, it is separated into its constituent colors: the red, orange,
yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. These colors do not distinctly separate but they continuously change
from red to violet. Red color has the longest wavelength from among these colors and violet has the
shortest. Our eyes are sensitive to electromagnetic waves of wavelengths that range from 4x10-7 m to
7x10-7 m. This is the range of wavelengths of white light. Thus, the spectrum of white light is therefore
called the visible spectrum.

Figure 14. The Visible Light

Ultraviolet Radiation
Ultraviolet radiation lies just beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum. Ultraviolet waves have
shorter wavelengths than the visible light and carry more energy. The sun is our main source of ultraviolet
radiation but there are also artificial sources of UV light. Ultraviolet radiation in UV lamps is used by banks
to check the signature on a passbook. The signature is marked on the passbook with fluorescent ink. It
becomes visible when viewed under an ultraviolet lamp. These lamps are also used to identify fake
banknotes.
Page 10 of 13
 Ultraviolet radiation is also used in sterilizing water from drinking fountains. Some washing powder
also contains fluorescent chemicals which glow in sunlight. This makes your shirt look whiter than white in
daylight. Ultraviolet radiation in sunlight produces vitamin D in the skin and gives us tanning effect. But
since UV rays have high energy, it could be harmful to some extent. It could burn the skin and hurt our
eyes. Overexposure to UV radiation may cause skin cancer. Suntan or sunscreen lotion prevents ultraviolet
radiation.

Figure 15. UV light on room disinfection

X-rays
X-rays come just after the ultraviolet rays. They are of shorter wavelength but carries higher energy
than the UV. X-rays are produced using an X-ray tube. They are emitted when fast moving electrons hit a
metal target. X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895.

Long wavelength X-rays can penetrate the flesh but not the bones. They are used in X-ray
photography to help doctors look inside the body. They are useful in diagnosing bone fractures and tumors.
Short wavelength X-rays can penetrate even through metals. They are used in industry to inspect welded
joints for faults. All X-rays are dangerous because they can damage healthy living cells of the body. This is
the reason why frequent exposure to X-rays should be avoided. Too much exposure to X-rays can damage
body tissues and can cause cancer.

Figure 16. Roentgen and the first human x-ray of his wife’s hand in 1895

Gamma Rays
Gamma rays lie at the other end of the electromagnetic spectrum. They are shortest in wavelength
and highest in frequency. They carry the highest amount of energy; thus, they are more dangerous. Gamma
Page 11 of 13
rays are emitted by stars and some radioactive substances. They can only be blocked with lead and thick
concrete. Gamma rays are very strong that they can kill living cells. Gamma rays are used to treat cancer
through the process called radiotherapy. They are also used for sterilization of drinking water.

Figure 17. Radiotherapy Figure 19. Radiotherapy (focused)

V. Post-Assessment (to be given during face-to-face schedule)

VI. References
• Angeles, D. C., Crisostomo, L. M., Quinsaat, D. T., & Toledo, S. B. (2013). Science Vistas. Makati City: Don
Bosco Press.
• Baguio, S. M., Bonifacio, A. B., Manosa, S. D., & Santisteban-Cook, C. C. (2015). Breaking Through Science.
Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc.
• Calamlam, A. H., Calamlam, J. M., Florido, A. V., Gerona, Z. M., Lansangan, R. V., Nueva Espana, R. C., &
Sinugbuhan, R. L. (2020). Science and Technology (2nd ed.). ABIVA Publishing House Inc.
• Evangelista, E. V., Follosco, G. L., & Pili, A. S. (2014). Science in Today's World. Quezon City: Sibs Publishing
House Inc.
• Garcia, R. G., Laurente, J. T., Montebon, D. T., & Auditor, E. (2015). Science for the 21st Century Learner.
Makati City: DIWA Learning Systems Inc.
• Giancoli, D. C. (2005). Physics Principles with Applications (6th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Educaton Inc.
• Young, H. D., Freedman, R. A., & Ford, A. L. (2008). Sears and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern
Physics
• (12th ed.). San Francisco: Pearson Eduaction Inc.

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SOME USEFUL PHYSICAL CONSTANTS

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