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Rogue Physicist.  Free resources for physics education © 2006-2016 Dorian Pascoe.  Email: dorian.pascoe@hotmail.co.uk

Most resources are available under a Creative Commons Licence.  Visit our mirror at www.physicsweb.altervista.org

 

 

 

...electromagnetic waves...

 

 

 

Objectives:

 

  
 

 

Pretty waves :)

  

 

• Know that there are seven types of electromagnetic waves.

 

 

• Be able to list the types of electromagnetic wave, in order.

 

 

• Be able to compare electromagnetic waves in terms of their frequency, wavelength and energy.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 1 - Starter

 

  
 

 

I know the answer!

 

 

  

 

Use the wave equation to solve the following problems.

 

 

1) A sound wave travels through air at a speed of 330 m/s and has a frequency of 450Hz.  Calculate its wavelength.

 

 

2) A sound wave travelling through water has a wavelength of 25cm, and a frequency of 6000Hz.  What is the speed of sound in water?

 

 

3) A radio wave has a frequency of 800kHz, and travels at 3 x 108 m/s.  What is its wavelength?

 

 

 

 

Your teacher will tell you which questions to complete.

Show full working for all your calculations.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 2 - Electromagnetic waves

 

  
 

 

7

Hulk smash all the waves!

  

 

There are seven types of electromagnetic waves.  Look at the hints on this presentation and see if you can guess them all!

 

 

Click the image above to download the hints.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 3 - EM wave demonstrations

 

  
 

 

I like to emit electromagnetic waves.

 

  

 

Your teacher will show you some demonstrations, which may include:

 

 

1) Thermograms and an IR thermometer.

 

2) A remote control transmitting IR waves, viewed on a webcam.

 

3) Highly collimated monochromatic light from a laser.

 

4) Highlighters, banknotes and a driving license under UV light.

 

5) X-ray images captured on photographic paper.

 

6) A Geiger-Mόller tube detecting gamma radiation.

 

 

 

 

Your teacher may also show you some images from this powerpoint presentation:

 

 

Click the image above to download the presentation.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 4 - Sources, uses & dangers

 

  
 

 

My brain uses electrical waves.

 

 

  

 

List the sources, uses and dangers of each type of electromagnetic wave in the table below.

 

 

Click the image above to download this table as a word document.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Task 5 - Writing a mnemonic

 

  
 

 

 

Think hard!

 

  

 

Write a mnemonic to help you remember the names of the electromagnetic waves, in order.

 

 

Click the image above to view in fullscreen.

 

 

Radio waves

Microwaves

Infrared

Visible light

Ultraviolet

X-rays

Gamma rays

 

 

Your teacher may tell you examples of other mnemonics, to provide you with some inspiration!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homework

 

  
 

 

Let's catch some waves!

 

 

 

 

  

 

Produce a poster or leaflet about one type of electromagnetic wave.

 

 

It should describe and explain the characteristics, sources, uses and dangers in detail.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OLD CONTENT, TO BE ARCHIVED

 

Task 1 - Recap

Remind the person next to you:

Teacher note: click here for a full-screen version.  Set to oscillate with an amplitude of 50, frequency of 25, no damping, no end.

• What is meant by the term "frequency".

• What is meant by the term "wavelength".

• What is meant by the term "amplitude".

• The units used to measure each quantity.