Electromagnetic Waves

The waves are defined as the disturbance through any medium of substance. The electromagnetic
waves are the waves which are generated bycoupling of magnetic field with electric field. These
waves are in perpendicular direction to both the electric and magnetic and also perpendicular to each
other. These are first studied by James Clerk Maxwell and Heinrich Hertz. Maxwell discovered that
changing electric field induced magnetic field and also vice-versa. These waves are existed due to
change in these fields. These are continued till it is not absorbed by matter.
The German physicist Hertz used the theory of Maxwell for the radio waves and gives the unit of
frequency. He showed all the properties of the electromagnetic waves as these waves do not required
any medium for their movement. Here we are discussing all about these waves, transmission, their
generation process, and their properties.

What are Electromagnetic Waves?

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Let us consider an Electromagnetic field. When there is a periodic disturbance in the electric and
magnetic fields, we are able to see this Electromagnetic wave. These waves have a frequency that
comes in the range of electromagnetic spectrum.

An Electromagnetic spectrum is the spectrum containing all possible range of frequencies coming in
the electromagnetic wave. These waves do not need the medium for their Propagation. These waves
can be polarized and are transverse in nature. Medium is not required for their propagation.
Example: Radio waves, Light waves, thermal radiation, X ray etc.

Electromagnetic Waves Definition

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These waves were discovered by famous physicist James Maxwell. They can be defined as "When
electric and magnetic fields fluctuate together they lead to formation of the propagating waves
called Electromagnetic waves."

Properties of Electromagnetic Waves

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Electromagnetic radiations are basically streams of photons. It is a transverse wave. In a transverse

wave the medium has particles that vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the
propagation of wave.
The various properties of Electromagnetic waves are:
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1. The Velocity of electromagnetic wave in vacuum is 3 10 m / s.

2. The existence of medium is not essential for propagation.
3. In vacuum, E.M waves travel with light velocity.
4. E.M waves can be polarized.
5. E.M waves are transverse in nature.
6. E.M waves have momentum.
7. There is no deflection on account of magnetic or electric field.
8. They can exhibit diffraction and interference.

Examples of Electromagnetic Waves

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Radio waves, Light waves, thermal radiation, X ray, visible light, microwave, infrared, gamma rays etc.
are the example of electromagnetic waves. These waves together form the electromagnetic spectrum.

Speed of Electromagnetic Waves

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Electromagnetic waves can have a wave or particle nature. When wave it is characterized
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by frequency and wavelength.In vacuum the waves travel with a speed of light = 3 10 m/s. If a
medium is considered then it would depend upon the refractive index of the medium.

Electromagnetic Spectrum
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The Electromagnetic spectrum consists of all the possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiations.

The electromagnetic spectrum starts from radio waves and goes beyond the gamma rays. It is very
vast range of frequencies.
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Electromagnetic Spectrum Waves

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EM spectrum consists of different types of waves with different wavelength and frequencies. The
wavelength and the frequency of the wave are inversely proportional to each other. The following are
the types of Electromagnetic Waves in the spectrum:
1. Radio Waves
2. Micro Waves
3. Infrared Rays
4. Visible Light
5. Ultraviolet
6. X rays
7. Gamma Rays

Types of Radiation
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There are seven types of electromagnetic waves which can be classified as follows:
Radio Waves :
1. These are the waves that are emitted by radio stations, during transmission or by TV stations
etc. they are also emitted by stars.

2. They Can range from few millimeters to large wavelength.

3. They are used by antennas.
4. They are used for data transmission via modulation.
Micro Waves :
1. The waves emitted by the microwave oven, yes they are the microwaves!
2. They are used by astronomers to study the structures of galaxies.
3. They are of two types Super high frequency and extremely high frequency.
4. They are used by Wi-fi.
Infrared Rays :
They are emitted by everything that is warm and hot.
They are of three types viz.
1. Far infrared rays
2. Mid infrared rays
3. Near infrared rays.
Visible Light :
1. These are emitted by everything from a bulb to particle striking other particles. These waves
are detected by human eye.
2. The wavelength lies between 380 nm to 760 nm
3. They are used in optical fiber communication medium.
Ultraviolet :
1. They are emitted by sun, is harmful for human body. They cause skin burn.
2. They can ionize atoms.
3. They can cause skin cancer.
4. They cause mutagen
5. They are absorbed by ozone layer mostly.
X rays :
1. They are used by doctors.
2. They can interact with matter.
3. They cause Compton Effect.
They are of two types viz.

Hard ray

Soft X-ray.

Gamma Rays :
1. They are emitted by radioactive substances.
2. They are used in treatment of many diseases.
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Do Electromagnetic Waves Need a Medium?

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Electromagnetic waves can travel through vacuum.

There are many theories behind this.
1. One says that as the electromagnetic waves are made up of electric and magnetic fields,
oscillating perpendicular to each other and so at the point where they meet they push each
other and hence propagate without any mediums need.
2. Electromagnetic waves possess both wave as well as particle nature and hence can travel
without medium.
Thus the Traveling Electromagnetic Wave do not need medium for propagation.

Transfer of Energy by Electromagnetic Waves

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Electromagnetic radiation is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. Basically it is the

movement of waves from one place to another. For example: X rays and Gamma rays. In order to
transfer energy E. R act on the particular stuff to cause of initiate the chemical reactions. It can break
bonds by exceeding the activation energy. They can break or make bonds.
For example: the microwave oven transferring energy for making pop corns. Also the light rays
causing the reaction on the retina. The colors and everything else is an example. The energy carried
is called Radiant energy.

Electromagnetic Spectrum Radio Waves

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They are given out by transmitters

They are formed as a result of thunder, lightning etc.

They have the lowest frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum.

They are used in communication mostly.

They are of 4 types viz.

1. Long wave
2. Medium wave
3. UHF and

4. VHF.

Much exposure can cause cancer.

They are used by antennas.

They are used for data transmission via modulation.

These are the waves that are emitted by radio stations, during transmission or by TV stations
etc. they are also emitted by stars.

They can range from few millimeters to large wavelength.

They are used in Phones, TV, radio etc.

Is Sound an Electromagnetic Wave?

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The radio waves are used to carry the sound waves to the larger distance. It is composed of long
radio waves, AM and FM waves. So, from this a question Is Sound an Electromagnetic Wave
could be positively answered. Yes the sound is electromagnetic waves. In fact, we can say that any
radiation of whatsoever the wavelength it is the part of the EM spectrum.

Energy in Electromagnetic Waves

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The Energy in electromagnetic waves are half due to electric field and half due to magnetic field.
Electromagnetic radiation is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves. Basically it is the
movement of waves from one place to another.
For example: X rays and Gamma Rays.

Electromagnetic Field
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Electromagnetic fields are produced by electromagnetic waves. Basically they are produced by every
charge particle that is moving. Now as the waves have a particle as well as the wave nature so this
field is also produced by electromagnetic waves. It is produced in the area surrounding the wave. It is
the fundamental force of nature. Basically the field is produced by electric and magnetic field, by static
as well as moving charges. It is described by Maxwell equations.

Radio Waves
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The Radio waves are the very starting point of the EM spectrum. They have wavelength in the range
of 1 millimeter to several kilometers. The Radio wave frequency lies between as low as 3 Hz to as
high as 300 GHz. The radio waves are generally used in communication systems.
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Infrared Rays
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The infrared waves are of wavelength well below the visible region of the EM spectrum. The infrared
are not visible to our eye since they are outside the narrow window of the visible frequencies. In other
words, we can say that we are blind for all the spectrum except the visible spectrum.
The heat emitted by the body after the flame extinguishes is an examples of the infrared waves.

Ultraviolet Rays
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In the Electromagnetic spectrum the rays having frequencies higher than the violet color of the visible
light and frequency lower than the x rays is termed as the ultraviolet rays.
In terms of wavelength we can define the ultraviolet rays as the rays having wavelength less than the
violet visible light and greater than the x rays.Ultraviolet rays wavelength varies from 10 nanometer to
the 400 nanometer.
Ultraviolet spectrum of the electromagnetic spectrum is basically divided into three parts.
1. Near ultraviolet region
2. Far ultraviolet region
3. Extreme ultraviolet region.
It show three regions are made on the basis of the increasing energy.
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Gamma Rays
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The gamma rays are discovered by a French chemist and physicist, Paul Ulrich Villard, in 1900.
1. The gamma rays are the high frequency, high energy and shorter wavelength rays.
2. They lie above the X rays in the electromagnetic spectrum and are distinguishable from the
X rays by the source of their origins.
They have too many application in medical sciences and nuclear physics.
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X Rays
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Wilhelm Roentgen named the rays he discovered as X rays. The X rays belongs to the
electromagnetic spectrum. The X rays extends from the ultraviolet band to gamma rays band.
Although their is very thin line between the X-ray and gamma rays but they are distinguished by the
source of their generation. They have their own applications in medical science in diagnosis.
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