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ELETROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
1. Angstrom unit (A): The unit used to measure small length like wavelength of
electromagnetic spectrum is called angstrom unit. One Angstrom (1 A) = 10-8cm = 10-10m.
2. Monochromatic light: A light which consists of one colour (or one wavelength) only is
called monochromatic light. For example, red light; blue light, etc.
3. Polychromatic light: A light which is a mixture of several colours (wave bands) is called
polychromatic light. For example, sunlight (white light); candle light, etc., are polychromatic
lights.
4. Colour: The sensation produced in the brain due to the excitation of retina by an
electromagnetic wave of some particular wavelength is called colour.
5. White colour: It is the sensation produced in the brain when retina is excited for all the
colours of visible light.
6. Black colour is the sensation when retina is not excited at all as no visible light falls on it.
7. Dispersion: The phenomenon due to which a polychromatic light (white light) splits into
component colours (seven colours) when passed through a prism is called dispersion.
8. Spectrum: A band of colours obtained on screen when polychromatic light splits into
component colours is called spectrum.
9. Solar spectrum: A band of seven colours (VIBGYOR) formed on the screen when white light
splits into component colours is called solar spectrum.
10. Impure spectrum: A spectrum in which various bands of colours do not have sharp
boundaries but merge in each other or overlap each other at their edges is called impure
spectrum.
11. Pure spectrum: A spectrum in which various bands of colours have sharp boundaries and
not merge in each other is called pure spectrum.
12. Refrangibility: The angle through which light of a particular wavelength can deviate while
passing through prism is called refrangibility.
13. (a) Refrangibility of red light is least and maximum for violet light.
(b) Refractive index of a material for red light is least and maximum for violet light.
(c) Seven colours of dispersed light can be recombined by using either another inverted
equilateral prism or by using Newton's colour disc.
14. Invisible spectrum : The regions of spectrum which do not excite retina and hence not
visible are collectively called invisible spectrum.
15. Infrared spectrum : The invisible spectrum beyond red end of visible spectrum is called
infra-red spectrum. Its range is between 8000 A to 400,000 A.
16. Infrared radiations : The electromagnetic radiations, beyond red end of visible spectrum
are called infrared radiations.
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17. Infrared radiations (i) Travel with the velocity of 3 x 108 ms-1, (ii) obey laws of reflection and
refraction, (iii) produce heating effect on being absorbed by material objects, (iv) do not scatter
easily in fog.
18. Infrared radiations are used: (i) by doctors for therapeutic purposes, (ii) in infrared
photography, (iii) night vision devices, (iii) in heat seeking missiles.
19. Ultraviolet spectrum: The region of spectrum, which extends beyond violet and of visible
spectrum is called ultraviolet spectrum.
20. Ultraviolet radiations: The electromagnetic radiations found beyond violet end of visible
spectrum are called ultraviolet radiations. Their range .is from 4000 A to 100 A.
21. Ultraviolet radiations: (i) Travel with the velocity of light, (ii) Causes fluorescence in zinc
sulphide, (iii) bring about chemical reactions in silver salts, (iv) obey laws of reflection and
refraction.
22. Ultraviolet radiations are used : (i) To stimulate production of vitamin D in human
body, (ii) in detecting fake currency and diamonds, (iii) in detecting adulteration in ghee, (iv)
in killing bacteria, in drinking water.
23. Define the term dispersion of light.
Ans. The phenomenon due to which white light splits up into seven colours on passing through
a prism is called dispersion of light.
24. Explain the cause of dispersion of white light through a prism.
Ans. White light is made of seven colour bands (VIBGYOR), such that the rays in each
band have different wavelength and different frequencies. When the white light is incident on the
refracting face of the prism each coloured ray deviates through different angle, depending upon its
wavelength. The red rays deviate least, whereas the violet waves deviate most. It is this differential
deviation of rays, which causes dispersion.
25. Draw a diagram showing the dispersion of white light. Can a glass slab disperse
white light? If not, why?
Ans. Dispersion of white light is shown below.
R,V
V R
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26. Briefly describe an experiment to show that a prism itself produces no colour,
during dispersion of white light.
Ans: White light passing through a slit, is made to fall on an equilateral prism A, in a dark
room. The dispersed light is then received on a white screen ST, having a small hole in it. The
light passing out of the hole (say, green light), is made to pass through another prism B,
placed in an inverted position. It is observed that the light on passing through the prism B
only gets refracted, but does not suffer any dispersion. By moving the screen ST, up or down,
experiment can be conducted for any other colour of light. It is seen that in each case, only
refraction takes place. See figure below.
Thus, experiment proves that white light gets dispersed at the first face of prism only.
Afterwards it gets refracted. Hence, prism does not colour the white light.
27. Which colour of white light is deviate (i) the most (ii) the least ?
Ans. (i) Violet colour deviates the most, (ii) Red colour deviates the least.
28. Copy the diagram given below and complete ray diagram to show the nature of
light produced on the screen.
Or
Draw a diagram to show how constituent colours reunite to form white light
.
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Ans.
29. What do you understand by the term visible spectrum? State the order of colours
starting from the colour having maximum wave length.
Ans. A band of seven colours obtained on the screen, when white light is dispersed is called
visible spectrum.
The order of colours in the increasing wavelength is: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo
and violet.
30. (i) If a monochromatic beam of light undergoes minimum deviation through an
equiangular prism, how does the beam pass through the prism, with respect to its
base, (ii) If white light is used in the same way as in (i) above, what change is
expected in the emergent beam?
Ans. (i) The beam of monochromatic light travels parallel to the base of the equiangular
prism,
(ii) The white light will split into seven colours, such that the red colour deviates the least
and the violet colour deviates most.
31. The wavelengths for the light of red and blue colours are roughly 1 x 10 - 7 m and 4 x
10 - 7 m respectively. Which colour will have greater speed in vacuum? Which colour
has greater speed in glass?
Ans. (i) In vacuum, both red and blue colours have same speed.
(ii) In glass, the speed of red colour is more than blue colour.
32. Give the list of at least five radiations in the order of their increasing frequencies,
which make up the complete electromagnetic spectrum. Which of these has the
highest penetrating power?
Ans. (i) Radiowaves (ii) Infra-red rays (iv) Ultraviolet rays, (iv) X-rays.
X-rays have the highest penetrating power.
33. Arrange the following in the order of their increasing wave length: X-rays, infra-red
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rays, radiowaves, gamma rays and microwaves.
Ans. Gamma rays, X-rays, infra-red rays, microwaves, radiowaves.
34. A wave has a wavelength of 0.01 A. Name the wave. Ans. The wave is called y
radiation.
What is the range of the wavelength of the following
electro- magnetic waves?
(a) Gamma rays (b) X-rays
(c) ultraviolet rays (d) visible
(e) infra-red (f) micro-waves
(g) radio-waves
Ans. (a) Gamma rays : shorter than 0.1 A
(b) X-rays : 0.1 A to 100 A
(c) Ultra-violet rays : 100 A to 4000 A
(d) Visible light : 4000 A to 8000 A
(e) Infra-red radiation : 8000 A to 3 x 107 A
(f) Micro-waves : 3 x 107 A to 1011 A
(g) Radio-waves : 11 x 1011 A and above.
35. Name the radiations of wavelength: (i) longer than 8 x 10-7 m, (ii) shorter than 4 x 10-7 m.
Ans. (i) Infra-red radiations have wavelength longer than 8 x 10-7m.
(ii) Ultraviolet radiations have wavelength less than 4 x 10 -7m.
36. Two waves A and B have wavelength 0.01 A and 9000 A respectively. Name the
waves. Compare the speeds of these waves when they travel in vacuum.
Ans. The wave A(0.01 A) is gamma radiation. The wave B (9000 A) is infra-red radiation. Speed
of wave A in vacuum: Speed of wave B in vacuum = 1 : 1 .
37. Name three properties of ultra-violet radiations which are similar to white light.
Ans. (i) Both obey the laws of reflection (ii) Both obey the laws of refraction, (iii) Both
travel with the speed of 3 x 108 ms-l.
38. Give two properties of ultra-violet radiations which differ from visible light.
Ans. (i) They get readily scattered as compared to visible light.
(ii) They are chemically more active than visible light.
39. Name three properties of infra-red radiations, which is similar to white light.
Ans. (i) Both obey the laws of reflection,
(ii) Both obey the laws of refraction,
(iii) Both travel with the speed of 3 x 108 ms-1.
40. State two properties of infra-red radiations, which differ from visible light.
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Ans. 1. Infra-red radiations produce heating effect, but not the visible radiation.
2. Infra-red radiations do not get scattered easily as compared to visible light.
41. Answer the following questions regarding infrared spectrum :
(i) On which side of visible spectrum is it found?
(ii) State the range of infrared spectrum,
(iii) Why is rock salt prism used in experiments for infrared spectrum ?
(iv) How will you detect infrared spectrum?
(v) State four properties of infrared radiation.
(vi) Name two natural sources which emit infra red radiations.
(vii) State two important uses of infrared radiations.
Ans. (i) It is found beyond red band of visible spectrum.
(ii) From 8000 A to 400,000 A.
(iii) It is because it does not absorb infrared radiations, unlike glass prism.
- (iv) Slowly move a thermometer, whose bulb is blackened beyond red part of
spectrum. It is observed that thermometer registers sudden rise in
temperature. This proves the presence of infrared radiation.
(v) 1. They travel with the speed of 3 x 108 ms-1.
2. They obey laws of reflection and refraction.
3. They heat the material, which absorbs them.
4. They do not easily get scattered and can pass through fog.
(vi) 1. Sun 2. All hot bodies
(vii) 1. They are used by doctors for relieving pain from swollen joints of patients.
2. They are used in heat seeking missiles.
42. Answer the following questions regarding ultraviolet spectrum.
(a) On which side of visible spectrum is it formed?
(b) What is the range of ultraviolet spectrum?
(c) Name the material of prism which absorbs least ultraviolet radiation.
(d) How can you detect ultraviolet radiations?
(e) What is the effect of these radiations on:
(i) atmosphere, (i) human skin, (iii) human eyes
(f) In which way are ultraviolet radiation beneficial to :
(i) Human being; (ii) Jewelers; (iii) Bankers?
(g) Give four important properties of ultraviolet radiations.
(h) Amongst the sources listed below, name two most powerful sources of
ultraviolet radiation :
(i) Room heater, (ii) Arc welding, (iii) Electric lamp, (iv) Sun.
Ans. (a) It is found beyond violet band of visible spectrum.
(b) From 4000 A to 100 A.
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(c) Quartz prism.
(d) Place a zinc sulphide crystal before violet part of spectrum. The crystal glows
with a greenish blue glow, showing the presence of ultraviolet radiations.
(e) (i) They are absorbed by the oxygen molecules present in air. The molecules of
oxygen then combine chemically to form ozone,
(ii) They can cause skin cancer on prolonged exposure.
(iii) They can damage retina and can cause permanent blindness.
(f) (i) Controlled exposure of ultraviolet radiations stimulates the body to produce
vitamin D. Vitamin D is then used by body for strengthening bones and
teeth.
(ii) Ultraviolet radiations can be used to distinguish between the fake and the
real diamonds.
(iii) Ultraviolet radiations can detect any alteration in the bank cheques and the
forged currency notes,
(g) 1. They travel with the velocity of 3 x 108 ms-1.
2. They obey laws of reflection and refraction.
3. They cause fluorescence in zinc sulphide, barium platinocyanide etc.
4. They are easily scattered and ionise the gases.
(h) (i) Sun (ii) Arc welding or electric welding
Name of Wavelengt Sources Detection Properties Uses
the h range
scientist
1 Ƴ rays Becquerel 1. 1. Used in
Radioactive killing cancer
substance cells in human
[Link] body 2. Ƴ rays
rays Crystallography
2 X rays Roentgen Stream of 1. Radigraphy
fast moving of fractured
electrons bone, teeth etc.
striking 2. X ray
substances crystallography
like
tungsten,
rubidium
etc
3 UV rays Ritter 1. Sunlight 1. Sterilizing 2.
2. Arc lamp Synthesis of
Vitamin D 3.
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4 Light rays Newton 1. Sunlight 1. Makes an
2. Glowing object visible 2.
bulb 3. Photosynthesis
Burning
candle
5 Infrared Hershell All hot
rays bodies
6 Microwaves Hertz Klystron
tube
7 Radiowave Marconi Radiowave
s transmitter
Uses
Properties
Detection
moving electrons
substances like
etcfast
transmitter
Radiowave
tungsten,
Radioactive
striking
[Link] rays
[Link]
Stream of
Roentgen rubidium
Sources
Becquerel
Harshell
Marconi
Newton
Ritter
Hertz
Name of the
Scientist
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Infrared rays
Radiowaves
Microwaves
Light rays
UV rays
Ƴ rays
X rays
1
7
Scattering of light: When white light strikes a small particle like dust particle
of or atmospheric molecules, whose size is of the order of the wavelength of the
incident light, it is absorbed by the particle and re emitted in different
directions. This phenomenon of light is called Scattering of light.
Rayleigh’s equation for the scattering: If the size of the molecule or the dust
particle is smaller than the wavelength of the incident wave then the intensity
of the scattered light is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the
wavelength of the incident wave.
I α 1/ λ 4
But, if the size of the particle is slightly greater than the wavelength then the
intensity of the scattered light is same for all wavelength of white light i.e. all
colours of light are equally scattered in all directions.
Explain why
1. The sky becomes redish during the sun rise and the sun set.
3. Blue colour of sky
4. Black colour of space
5. White colour of clouds
6. Red light for danger signal
7. Street lights are sodium vapour lamps
8. Fog lights are used by the cars while driving in the winter
Why is it dangerous to drive a car in the night without back light in the
highway?
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Ans: The highways are generally dark in the night and the visibility is poor.
The back light fitted at the rear side of the vehicle is red in colour. The red
having longest wavelength, the intensity of the scattered light is minimum. It
can penetrate easily through the atmosphere and can be seen from a long
distance. The driver coming from the back can see the car in front of him
easily and can avoid accident.
Why is the sky white in colour at noon?
Ans: At noon the sun is right above our head. The rays of light coming from
the sun cover minimum distance through the atmosphere. Hardly any
scattering of light takes place. All colours of the sun light enter our eye and we
see the sky to be white.
Two astronauts in space decided to come out of the space ship in their
space suit. What will be their observations regarding sun, moon, earth,
other planets and the surroundings?
Ans: In the absence of the atmosphere the rays of light coming from the sun
will be intense and the sun will be visible prominently.
The rays of light emitted from the sun suffers reflection from the moon and the
reflected rays of light will enter their eyes and moon will appear as a non-
luminous object to them.
Similarly the earth will be visible to them as non-luminous object.
For the same reason the other planets will also be visible but they will appear
to be smaller as the planets are at greater distances.
In the absence of the atmosphere, the rays of light coming from the sun will
neither be reflected nor be scattered. Hence the surroundings will appear to be
absolutely dark but the astronauts will be able to see each other as the rays
coming from the sun are reflected by the astronauts themselves.
Water is transparent but clouds made up of water droplets seem to be
white. Explain
Ans: Clouds are made up of water droplets whose size is slightly greater than
the wavelength of the sun light. The incident rays are absorbed by the water
droplets and all wavelengths (colours) of the incident light are scattered
equally in all possible directions and hence the clouds seem to be white.
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