Electromagnetic Spectrum Flashcards by Ischia Middleton

what is the electromagnetic spectrum in order of frequency from highest to lowest?

gamma rays

x-rays

ultraviolet (UV) rays

visible light

infrared radiation

microwaves

radio waves

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what is the electromagnetic spectrum in order of wavelength from shortest to longest?

gamma rays

x-rays

ultraviolet (UV) rays

visible light

infrared radiation

microwaves

radio waves

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in the electromagnetic spectrum, the higher the frequency the … the wavelength

in the electromagnetic spectrum, the higher the frequency the shorter the wavelength

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what is the electromagnetic spectrum in order of energy from highest to lowest?

radio waves

microwaves

infrared radiation

visible light

ultraviolet (UV) rays

x-rays

gamma rays

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what is the electromagnetic spectrum?

a continuous range of wavelengths

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what do electromagnetic waves form?

a continuous spectrum

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the types of radiation that occur in different parts of the … have different … and …, which depend on their … and …

the types of radiation that occur in different parts of the spectrum have different uses and dangers, which depend on their wavelength and frequency

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what is the equation for wave speed?

wave speed (metre per second) = frequency (hertz) × wavelength (metre)

v = f x λ

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rearrange the the equation for wave speed to make frequency the subject

frequency (hertz) = wave speed (metre per second) ÷ wavelength (metre)

f = v ÷ λ

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rearrange the the equation for wave speed to make wavelength the subject

wavelength (metre) = wave speed (metre per second) ÷ frequency (hertz)

λ = v ÷ f

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what types of waves are electromagnetic waves?

transverse

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what speed do electromagnetic waves travel at?

the speed of light (299 792 458 m/s or 300 000 000m/s)

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what are three uses of gamma rays?

radiotherapy - to kill cancer cells

sterilising medical equipment by killing all the microbes - this is better than trying to boil plastic instruments, which might be damaged by high temperatures

sterilising food by kiling all the microbes - this keeps the good fresh for longer, without having to freeze it or cook it or preserve it some other way - the food is not radioactive afterwards, so it’s perfectly safe to eat

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what are three uses of xrays?

to scan bones - X-rays pass easily through flesh but not through denser material like bones or metals

CAT scans

airport scans

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what are three uses of UV rays?

sun beds

detecting forged bank notes in shops

fluorescent lights - they use UV radiation to emit visible light

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what are three uses of visible light?

to see (sight)

used to make lasers which are used in CDs, DVDs

laser printers

what are three uses of infra red light?

remote controls for television sets and DVD player

security lights

burglar alarms

what are three uses of micro-waves?

microwave ovens

mobile phones

speed cameras

what are three uses of radio waves?

television

aerial TV

radios

what are the dangers of gamma rays?

cause cell damage, causing mutations (which may lead to cancer) and cell death

they cause mutations in growing tissues (which may lead to tissue damage) so unborn babies are especially vulnerable

what are the dangers of x-rays?

can cause cell damage causing mutations (which leads to cancer) and cell death

cause severe burns, leukemia, and cataracts

can speed aging, reduce immunity to disease, and bring about disastrous changes in the reproductive cells

what are the dangers of UV rays?

sunburn

can cause cell mutation or destruction

skin cancer

eye cataracts

premature ageing of the skin

what are the dangers of visible light?

too much light can damage the retina in your eye - blindness

what are the dangers of infra red?

causes skin burns

what are the dangers of micro-waves

cause internal heating of body tissues cataracts

how do microwave ovens work?

microwaves agitate water molecules in food as these water molecules get increasingly agitated they begin to vibrate (kinetic energy) and generate heat (thermal energy) - the food cooks

in a microwave oven, the **...** the molecules vibrate, the **...** the food becomes

in a microwave oven, the **faster** the molecules vibrate, the **hotter** the food becomes

what are the dangers of radio waves?

very large doses (being overexposed) are believed to cause cancer, leukaemia and other disorders

the higher the frequency of an electromagnetic wave, the ... the energy it transfers for a given ...

the higher the frequency of an electromagnetic wave, the **greater** the energy it transfers for a given **amplitude**

the higher the frequency of radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum the **...** damage it is likely to cause to the body

the higher the frequency of radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum the **more** damage it is likely to cause to the body

list four similarities that all the parts of the electromagnetic spectum share

they can be dangerous they are found in the sun they are transverse waves they can travel through a vacuum

what two features of characteristic of one electromagnetic wave makes it different from another electromagnetic wave?

frequency and wavelength

what is the potential danger of mobile phones?

microwave radiation is used to transmit signals in mobile phone calls holding a mobile near you head could mean that the water surrounding your brain is being heated which is a huge danger however, the intensity of the microwaves is too low to damage tissues by heating, and microwaves are not ionising

Are fluroscent lights more or less energy-effient than filament light bulbs? Where are they used?

Fluroscent lights are more energy-efficient than filament light bulbs they're often used in places (like classrooms and officers) where they'll be needed for long periods

What are the colours of visible light in order of longest wavelength?

What are the colours of visible light in order of highest freuqency to lowest frequency?

violet indigo blue green yellow orange red

How do you remember the colours of visible light (in order of longest wavelength to shortest wavelength)

**R**ichard (red) **O**f (orange) **Y**ork (yellow) **G**ave (green) **B**attle (blue) **I**n (indigo) **V**ain (violet)