comparing wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum
Comparing Wavelengths In The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Gamma rays have the smallest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum, there is only 0.03 nano meters between the peak of each wave as is shown in this diagram.
There is a universal speed that electromagnetic waves travel at which is 300m/s and this means that the wave frequency depends on the wavelength. The wave frequency for gamma rays is 300/0.03=10000hz. Gamma rays are produced by violent events in the universe such as supernovas and the destruction of atoms, black holes are also sources of gamma rays. Gamma rays can also be produced on earth by nuclear explosions and radioactive atoms. Gamma rays can be used to see deep into space, satellites use a process called the Compton scattering to catch the high energy photons by bouncing them of electrons so they lose energy and by catching these gamma ray photons it is possible to build up an image of deep space. This was first tried in 1961 by the Explorer XI satellite but it only succeeded in capturing fewer than 100 photons. In the early 1970’s gamma ray bursts were recorded being emitted from deep space, these bursts are incredibly powerful and one ten second burst contains more energy than the sun will emit in it’s 10 billion year lifetime. Gamma rays are also very dangerous, they kill living cells and can only be stopped by large amounts of a substance such as lead. This destructive ability is used in medicine, it is called chemotherapy and the gamma rays are used to target cancerous cells and kill them.
The smaller the wavelength, the more energy the wave has. X-rays are talked about more in terms of energy rather than waves, this is because the wavelength is very small, only 3 nm.
X-rays are also spoken about in terms of energy because they act more like particles than waves, if you want to detect x-rays you need to measure photons of x-ray light rather than the waves. In terms of wave frequency x-rays have a considerably lower wave frequency than gamma rays, 300/3 = 100hz. X-rays are used in medicine to show broken bones and teeth and any other problems with the dense parts of the body. X-rays travel through things like clothes and skin but when substances like bones and metal halt their progress x-rays show up by the detector when the x-rays don’t reach it. You can’t feel x-rays and they’re perfectly harmless unless in a very large dose, it has even been said that x-rays can be beneficial to the human body. Like gamma rays x-rays can be used in astronomy, black holes, neutron stars, binary star systems, supernova remnants, stars, the Sun, and even some comets all emit x-rays and when these photons reach satellites with x-ray detectors on they can show us images of deep space.
Radio waves are the complete opposite of gamma rays, they are at the other end of the electromagnetic spectrum and the wave length is much longer, the wavelength ranges from 3 metres for fm radio to over 300 metres for am radio.
The wave frequency of a radio wave varies depending on the length, it could be anything from 300/300,000(nm) = 0.0001hz to 300/300,000,009(nm) = 0.000001hz. Uses for radio waves also vary, as with gamma rays and x-rays radio waves can be used for astronomy. Objects in space, such as planets and comets, giant clouds of gas and dust, and stars and galaxies emit radio waves, some as long as a mile, these are picked up by large radio dishes on earth or on satellites called radio telescopes. These radio waves also help produce an image of space or discover what exists in space and how it works. The most well known use of radio waves is obviously in radios and phones, the waves are transmitted and picked up by phones and radios to produce sound, images and text. There have been questions asked about how dangerous radio waves are, some scientists are worried that our new technologically friendly generation will develop more cases of cancer due to over exposure to radio waves from items like phones.
I have only compared three of the seven electromagnetic waves on the spectrum but it is obvious that each has its advantages and disadvantages. Some are dangerous but most can be easily controlled and put to good use, our knowledge of the universe, the earth and even ourselves wouldn’t be nearly as advanced without the help of electromagnetic waves.
Gamma rays have the smallest wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum, there is only 0.03 nano meters between the peak of each wave as is shown in this diagram.
There is a universal speed that electromagnetic waves travel at which is 300m/s and this means that the wave frequency depends on the wavelength. The wave frequency for gamma rays is 300/0.03=10000hz. Gamma rays are produced by violent events in the universe such as supernovas and the destruction of atoms, black holes are also sources of gamma rays. Gamma rays can also be produced on earth by nuclear explosions and radioactive atoms. Gamma rays can be used to see deep into space, satellites use a process called the Compton scattering to catch the high energy photons by bouncing them of electrons so they lose energy and by catching these gamma ray photons it is possible to build up an image of deep space. This was first tried in 1961 by the Explorer XI satellite but it only succeeded in capturing fewer than 100 photons. In the early 1970’s gamma ray bursts were recorded being emitted from deep space, these bursts are incredibly powerful and one ten second burst contains more energy than the sun will emit in it’s 10 billion year lifetime. Gamma rays are also very dangerous, they kill living cells and can only be stopped by large amounts of a substance such as lead. This destructive ability is used in medicine, it is called chemotherapy and the gamma rays are used to target cancerous cells and kill them.
The smaller the wavelength, the more energy the wave has. X-rays are talked about more in terms of energy rather than waves, this is because the wavelength is very small, only 3 nm.
X-rays are also spoken about in terms of energy because they act more like particles than waves, if you want to detect x-rays you need to measure photons of x-ray light rather than the waves. In terms of wave frequency x-rays have a considerably lower wave frequency than gamma rays, 300/3 = 100hz. X-rays are used in medicine to show broken bones and teeth and any other problems with the dense parts of the body. X-rays travel through things like clothes and skin but when substances like bones and metal halt their progress x-rays show up by the detector when the x-rays don’t reach it. You can’t feel x-rays and they’re perfectly harmless unless in a very large dose, it has even been said that x-rays can be beneficial to the human body. Like gamma rays x-rays can be used in astronomy, black holes, neutron stars, binary star systems, supernova remnants, stars, the Sun, and even some comets all emit x-rays and when these photons reach satellites with x-ray detectors on they can show us images of deep space.
Radio waves are the complete opposite of gamma rays, they are at the other end of the electromagnetic spectrum and the wave length is much longer, the wavelength ranges from 3 metres for fm radio to over 300 metres for am radio.
The wave frequency of a radio wave varies depending on the length, it could be anything from 300/300,000(nm) = 0.0001hz to 300/300,000,009(nm) = 0.000001hz. Uses for radio waves also vary, as with gamma rays and x-rays radio waves can be used for astronomy. Objects in space, such as planets and comets, giant clouds of gas and dust, and stars and galaxies emit radio waves, some as long as a mile, these are picked up by large radio dishes on earth or on satellites called radio telescopes. These radio waves also help produce an image of space or discover what exists in space and how it works. The most well known use of radio waves is obviously in radios and phones, the waves are transmitted and picked up by phones and radios to produce sound, images and text. There have been questions asked about how dangerous radio waves are, some scientists are worried that our new technologically friendly generation will develop more cases of cancer due to over exposure to radio waves from items like phones.
I have only compared three of the seven electromagnetic waves on the spectrum but it is obvious that each has its advantages and disadvantages. Some are dangerous but most can be easily controlled and put to good use, our knowledge of the universe, the earth and even ourselves wouldn’t be nearly as advanced without the help of electromagnetic waves.