ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

Faradays law of E.M.I. suggests that a magnetic field changing with time
at a point in space produces an electric field at that point. On the other
hand, Maxwells concept of displacement current led to the conclusion
that an electric field changing with time at a point in space produces an
magnetic field at that point. The electric and magnetic field can propagate
through space with velocity of light and were called E.M. waves.
The transverse time varying electric and magnetic fields propagating in
space in a direction perpendicular to the direction of both the electric and
magnetic fields are said to constitute ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES.
PROPERTIES OF E.M. WAVES:
1. E.M. Waves are transverse in nature.
2. They are produced by accelerated charges particles.
3. In free space they travel with a velocity, c= ( 00)-1/2 ( where 0 and
0 are absolute permeability and absolute permittivity of free space.
In a material medium they travel with a velocity , v= () -1/2 ( where
and are permeability and permittivity of that medium.
4. They obey the principle of superposition.
5. The variation in the amplitudes of electric and magnetic fields in
e.m. waves take place at the same time and at the same place in
space. The ratio of electric and magnetic fields is always constant
and is equal to the velocity of e.m. waves in that medium.
6. The energy in e.m. waves is divided equally between the electric
and magnetic fields.
SOUCRCE OF E.M. WAVES :
An electric charge at rest has electric field in the region around it, but no
magnetic field. A moving charge produces both electric and magnetic
fields. If the current is constant the magnetic and electric fields will not
change with time, hence no e.m. waves can be produced. If the charge is
accelerated both magnetic and electric fields will change with space and
time, it then produces electromagnetic waves. This shows that an
accelerated charge emits electromagnetic waves.
HISTORY OF E.M. WAVES:
In 1865, Maxwell predicted the existence of e.m. waves. According to him
an accelerated charge produces a time varying magnetic field which in
turn produces a time varying electric field. The two fields so produced are
mutually perpendicular to each other and are source of each other.

The mutually perpendicular time varying electric and magnetic fields

constitute e.m. waves abd propagate in space in a direction perpendicular
to both the direction of varying electric and magnetic fields.
In 1887, Hertz experimentally demonstrated the production of e.m. waves
of wavelength 6m by using a spark oscillator and then detecting them
successfully.
Seven year after in 1895 Jagdish Chander Bose produced e.m. waves of
wavelength range 5mm to 25 mm.
In 1896 Marconi discovered that if one end of the spark gap is connected
to an antenna and the other terminal is earthed the e.m. waves radiated
upto few kilometres (He demonstrated the transmission of e.m. waves)

Electromagnetic Spectrum

The whole range of frequencies/wavelengths of the electromagnetic waves

arranged in an order is known as the electromagnetic spectrum.

Electromagnetic spectrum consists of the following waves :

1. Radio waves 2. Micro waves 3. Infrared (i.e. IR) rays 4 Visible light
5. Ultra violet (i.e. UV) rays, 6. X-rays and 7. Gamma (i.e. ) rays

1. Radio waves : Radio waves are produced by rapidly changing the electric
current in LC circuit. The wavelength of a radio wave is the longest among all the
electromagnetic waves, whereas the frequency of radio wave is the least among
all the electromagnetic waves. Wavelength range of radio wave is from 15 cm to
2000 m.

Uses. Radio waves are mainly used for communication purpose. Radio waves are
classified into many categories depending upon their frequency range. The
classification of radio waves and their uses are given below:

(i) Very low frequency (VLF) radio waves : The frequency range of very low
frequency radio waves is 10 kHz to 30 kHz. This type of radio waves is used for
point to point short distance communication.
(ii) Low frequency (LF) radio waves : The frequency range of the low frequency
waves is 30 kHz to 300 kHz. This type of radio waves is used for marine
communication and navigation.
(iii) Medium frequency (MF) radio waves : The frequency range of the medium
frequency radio waves is 300 kHz to 3000 kHz. These radio waves are used for
amplitude modulated AM broadcasting.
(iv) High Frequency (HF) radio waves : The frequency of the high frequency radio
waves is 3 MHz to 50 MHz. These radio waves are used for long distance
communication.
(v) Very high frequency (VHF) radio waves: the frequency range of VHF radio
waves is 50 MHz to 300 MHz. These radio waves used for FM transmission, radar
and telecasting television programmes.

(vi) Ultra high frequency (UHF) radio waves : The frequency of UHF radio waves is
300 MHz to 3000 MHz. These radio waves are used for long distance
communication. Cellular phone make use UHF radio. Now, TVs also making use
of UHF, hyper waves and super bands upto 900 MHZ.

2. Microwaves . The wave kength of microwaves is greater than 1.0 mm and

less than 30 cm. The frequency range of microwaves is 10 9 Hz to 3.0 X 10 11 Hz .
They are produced by oscillating electrons in a cavity. The commonly used
oscillators to produce microwaves are Klystron, Magnetron and Gunn
diodes.

Uses:
(i) Microwaves are used in a radar communication
(ii) These are used for atomic and molecular research
(iii) These are used for aircraft navigation
(iv) These are used in microwave ovens for cooking and warming foods.
Frequency of the microwaves is set around 3GHz which matches the resonant
frequency of water molecules which make them to vibrate at larger amplitudes
to produceheat. This heat is produced for cooking/warming food.
(v) Microwaves are used for communication by cellular phones.
(vi) Microwaves are used in weather radar.

3. Infra-red (IR) rays . The wave length range of infra-red rays is 1 mm to 700
nm and the frequency range is 3.0 X 10 11 Hz to 4.3 X10 14Hz. Infra-red rays are
produced by the excitation of atoms and molecules. Hot bodies also radiate infrared rays. These are called heat waves also.

Uses :
(i) These rays can be pass through the haze, fog and mist, so these rays are used
in night vision devices during warfare and for taking photographs of earth under
foggy conditions from great height. Infrared detectors are used by earth
satellites.
9ii) These rays are used to function the green houses because green house gas
CO2 and water vapours absorb the infrared rays readily.
(iii) They are used in revealing the secret writings on the ancient walls.

(iv) Infrared lamps are used to treat mascular strains.

(v) The infra-red rays from the sun keep he earth warm.
(vi) Infrared remotes are used to operate electronic devises like TV, VCD, music
hi-fi systems etc.

4. Visible light. The wavelength rane of visible* light is 400 nm (violet) to 780
nm (red) and the frequency range is 4.3 X 10 14 Hz to 7.5 X 10 14 Hz. Visible light
is emitted when an electron jumps from higher energy level to lower energy level
of an atom.

Uses :
(i) Visible light stimulates the sense of the sight in human beings, so the
beautiful world around us is seen in the presence of visible light.
(ii) Visible light is useful in photography.
(iii) It is useful in optical microscopy.
(iv) It is useful in astronomy.
(v) It is a great source of energy for human life.

5. Ultra-violet (UV) rays: The range of ultra-violet rays is 400 nm to 0.6 nm

and their frequency range is 7.5 X 10 14 Hz to 5.0 X 10 15 Hz. The sun is the
most important source of ultra violet rays. Ultra-violet rays are also
produced by the welding arc. These rays in large quantities are very harmful to
the living tissues. They cause tanning of the skin due to their promotion of
melanin in the skin. Prolonged exposure to Uv rays can induce cancer in human
beings. Tanning can be protected by using glass panes because glass can absorb
UV rays. Ozone layer also protects us from the UV radiations present in the sun
rays.
Caution: The sun should not be directly looked at even during total solar eclipse.
Ultra-violet rays constantly entering our eyes may cause total blindness.
Uses:

(i) They are used to preserve food stuff and make drinking water free from
bacterias as these rays can kill bacteria, germs etc.

(ii) They are used for stirlizing the surgical instruments.

(iii) They are used in detecting the invisible writings, forged documents and
finger prints.
(iv) They are used to study the structure of molecules.
(v) UV rays are used in LASIK eye surgery.;

6. X rays . These rays were discovered by Prof. Rontgen in 1895. X-rays can be
produced by bombarding a target of high atomic number (Z) with a beam of fast
moving electrons. The range of the wavelength of X-rays varies from 10 nm to 10
-4
nm. The frequency of these rays varies from 5.0 X 10 15 Hz to 3.0 X 10 18 Hz. Xrays can penetrate through the human flesh but bones or metallic materials
block these rays. These can be damaging for living tissues.

Uses:
(i) These are used in medical diagnosis like locating the fracture in the bone,
foreign materials like coin or bullet in the body.
(ii) These are used in radio therapy to cure skin diseases, cancer and tumors.
(iii) These are used in engineering for locating the faults, cracks and flaws in the
finished metallic materials.
(iv) X-rays are used by detective agencies to detect gold, silver, diamonds and
other contraband goods etc. concealed in bags or the body of a person.

7. Gamma rays. These rays are produced when an electron jumps from higher
orbit to the lower orbit of an atom. Y rays also produced during radioactive decay
of nuclei and nuclear reactions. The wavelength of y-rays is the shortest of all the
electromagnetic waves. The range of the wavelength of these rays varies from
10 -10 m to 10 -14 m. On the other hand, the frequency of y-rays is the highest of
all the electromagnetic waves. The range of the frequency of y-rays varies from
3.0 X 10 18 Hz to 3.0 X 10 22Hz. The penetration power of these rays is extremely
high.

Uses :
(i) These are used for the treatment of cancer.
(ii) These are used to examine the thick materials for structural flaws.

(iii) These are used for food preservation

(iv) These are used to get valuable information about the structure of atomic
nuclei.