adminELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
Electric and magnetic fields are associated giving rise to electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves are waves that propagate through the electromagnetic field and are created by the vibration of charged particles, such as electrons. They are a combination of electrical and magnetic field that oscillates at right angles to each other and to the direction of propagation.
Electromagnetic waves are grouped according to different waves with peculiar characteristics. The types of electromagnetic wave grouping, include the following; radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, visible waves, ultraviolet waves, x-ray waves and gamma waves.
Radio waves are produced by the accelerated motion of charges in conducting wires and they have frequencies between 3KHZ and 300GHZ.
Microwaves are short wavelength waves, with a frequency range of between 300MHZ and 300GHZ, which is between radio waves and infrared light.
Infrared waves are produced by hot bodies and molecules. They have a frequency range of between 300GHZ and 400THZ and are between microwaves and visible light.
Visible light waves, is the most familiar of the electromagnetic waves, because it is only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that is detected by the human eye. It has a frequency range of between 400THZ and 800THZ, which is between infrared and ultraviolet waves.
An ultraviolet wave is produced by special lamps and very hot bodies. The have a frequency range of between 800THZ and 30PHZ, which is between visible light and x-ray waves.
X ray waves are produced by bombarding a metal target with high energy electrons. They have a frequency range of between 30PHZ and 30EHZ, which is between ultraviolet light waves and gamma waves.
Gamma waves are produced in a nuclear reaction and are also emitted by radioactive nuclei. They have a frequency range above 30EHZ, which is the highest frequency range in the electromagnetic spectrum.
In general the application of electromagnetic waves depends on their respective frequencies or wave lengths as the case may be, whether they are; radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray or gamma wave band. Therefore harnessing the properties of these diverse electromagnetic wave bands has led to their use in a wide variety of fields such as; communication(radio, TV, internet etc.), heating and cooking(microwave), lighting(visible light), medical imaging (x-ray), energy transmission, laser technology, radar technology, medical treatment (radiation therapy) and so on.
The future potential and use of electromagnetic waves is promising for the following applications; quantum communication, wireless power transfer for devices and energy infrastructure, advanced medical diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, Non-invasive brain simulation for brain interface devices, tetra -hetz technology for advanced communication, imaging, sensing , 6g and beyond mobile networks just to mention a few.
SOURCES;
- Electromagnetic waves for dummies by Steven Holzner (2010).
- Electromagnetic waves: An introduction by David A. Jaffe (2013).
- Electromagnetic waves explained by Ron Schmitt (2018).
- Electromagnetic waves: A beginner’s guide by Almas A. Siddiqui (2019).
- Electromagnetic waves : A modern introduction by Jeffrey A. Pollock (2013)
