Electromagnetic Spectrum and Wave Types Quiz

Types of Waves

• Transverse waves involve the medium vibrating perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

Electromagnetic Waves

• James Clerk Maxwell published a set of equations that mathematically describe electro and magnetic fields and showed that electromagnetic waves could propagate through space at the speed of light.

Wave Characteristics

• The maximum displacement of a wave from equilibrium is called amplitude.
• The highest point of a wave is called the crest.

History of Electromagnetic Waves

• Guglielmo Marconi developed a practical system for wireless transmission and reception of Morse Code messages using radio waves.
• Heinrich Hertz generated and detected electromagnetic waves using a spark gap transmitter to create rapidly oscillating radio waves.

Electromagnetic Spectrum

• The relationship between wavelength and frequency of an electromagnetic wave is: as wavelength decreases, frequency increases.
• Radio waves have the longest wavelength and lowest frequency among electromagnetic waves.
• The speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.

Electromagnetic Wave Properties

• The energy of an electromagnetic wave is related to its frequency.
• Infrared radiation is used for night vision goggles and thermometers.
• Gamma radiation has the highest energy and frequency among electromagnetic waves.
• X-rays have very high frequency and short wavelengths, allowing them to penetrate through material.

Safety and Applications

• Long exposure to radiowaves can cause tissue heating.
• Ultraviolet radiation is used for disinfection and UV therapy in farming.
• Microwaves are used for communication purposes and can cause tissue heating with long exposure.