Electromagnetic waves Flashcards
electromagnetic spectrum in order
- Radio waves
- Micro waves
- Infra red
- Visible light
- Ultra violet
- X-rays
- Gamma rays
Transverse waves
The oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer
What are EM waves?
Transverse waves that tranfer energy from a source to an absorber
How do EM waves travel through air or a vacuum?
At the same speed
EM waves wavelengh and frequency are ______ ______?
Inversely related
Electromagnetic spectrum as you go left to right
Frequency increases
wavelength decreases
Where does EM waves come from?
Everywhere
When an EM wave come into contact with something what happens?
- Reflected
- Absorbed
- Transmitted
Radio waves properties
-Lowest frequency
-Longest wavelength (+10cm)
Why are EM waves called EM
Generated of oscillations (alternating current) of electric and magnetic fields
What do we use to generate radio waves
Transmitter Which is usually connected to an oscilloscope
Oscilloscope
See the frequency of the alternating current
- determines the frequency of the wave
In radio waves, what is the absorber?
The receiver which generates an A.C. and is displayed on another oscilloscope
The oscilloscope of the reveiver and the oscilloscope of the transmitter have ____ _____ ______ frequency
The exact same
Radio waves uses
Allows us to transfer information (communication)
3 Radio waves for communication
- Long waves
- Short waves
- Very short waves
Why are long waves used for huge distances?
The waves diffract (bend) around the curved surface of the earth
- wavelength=1-10km
How do shortwaves travel long distances?
They are unable to diffract around the earth so they reflect from the ionosphere
- wavelegnth=10m-100m
ionosphere
An electrically charged layer in the Earth’s upper atmosphere
Very short waves
- TV
- FM radio
Direct travel
Infrared and microwaves properties
-Low frequency
-long wavelengths
Microwaves that aren’t absorbed by water molecules, uses
Used for communication using satellites as they can pass easily through the earth’s watery atmosphere
How do satellites use microwaves
- The signal from a transmitter is transmitted
into space - Satellite receiver dish picks up the signal
- The satellite transmit the signal back to earth
in a different direction - A satellite dish on the ground receives the
signal - slight time delay between the signals being
sent and received because of the long
distances.
Microwaves that are absorbed by water molecules, uses
Used in microwaves and ovens to heat our food