SCIENCE QUARTER 2 wavelength capable of transmitting

sound and picture information over

Module 1: Different Forms of EM Waves
long distances.
Electromagnetic wave (EM wave) or
● Global Positioning System (GPS)
electromagnetic radiation is a wave that is
is a space-based navigation system
created as a result of vibrations between an
that provides geographical position
electric field and magnetic field, hence known
and time information anywhere on
as ‘electromagnetic wave’. Recall Oersted’s
or near the earth. It communicates
discovery: A changing electric field produces
with stations on the ground using
magnetic field. A changing magnetic field is
radio waves.
therefore produced around a vibrating charge.
And according to Michael Faraday, the changing ● Magnetic Resonance Imaging
magnetic field will produce electric field. A wave (MRI) - It is a medical imaging
carries energy as it propagates, EM wave does technique that uses powerful
the same, too. EM waves can travel through magnets, computer and radio
anything even on vacuum, meaning they do not waves to make detailed pictures
need any medium to travel. They travel in a inside your body.
vacuum at a speed of 3x108 m/s.
2. Microwaves
There are seven different types of EM waves.  Practical Applications
They are arranged in a gradual progression from
• Satellite communication
the waves of lowest frequency to highest
Microwaves are used in satellite
frequency. This arrangement of EM waves is
communications because it can
called electromagnetic spectrum. In order of
penetrate the earth’s atmosphere.
increasing frequency, the EM spectrum includes
Microwave’s signals are transmitted
radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light,
by an antenna to a satellite which
ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma ray.
amplifies and retransmits the signal
Wavelength is the distance between crest to to an antenna in other parts of the
crest or trough to trough. EM waves are world. This is how we communicate
bounded at different ranges. Meaning each type even from afar.
of EM waves has upper and lower limits on the
• Terrestrial communication A cell
spectrum.
phone is a radio transmitter and
receiver that uses microwaves.
Cellular phones depend on
Module 2: Practical Applications and Effects of
overlapping network of cells. Each
Electromagnetic Waves
cell has its tower that receives and
While all these EM waves move through space sends microwave signals.
at the same speed of about three hundred (300)
• Cooking The microwaves in a
million meters per second, their wavelengths,
microwave oven penetrate and
frequencies, and energies differ. This is the
agitate the water molecules within
reason why they are arranged accordingly in a
the food. Thus, they create
scheme called Electromagnetic Spectrum.
molecular friction which produces
Electromagnetic waves have practical heat that will cook the food.
applications which depend greatly on their
• RADAR (Radio Detection and
wavelength, frequency, and energy.
Ranging) is a detection system used
 Electromagnetic Waves to determine the range, angle or
1. Radio Waves velocity of objects. It can be used to
 Practical Applications detect aircraft, ships, and the like.

● Radio/Television signals - Radio

and television signals are radio
waves that are produced by making
electrons vibrate. It has a long
3. Infrared (IR) banknotes, and passports include a
 Practical Applications UV watermark that is only seen
under UV emitting light.
● Remote control (IR remote) uses
LED lights to transmit signals to • Sterilization of water in drinking
control devices. It emits pulses of fountains Ultraviolet light
invisible infrared light. disinfection is one water treatment
system that can be used to remove
● Thermal imaging through infrared
most forms of microbiological
scanners Infrared scanner such as
contamination from water.
thermal imaging and thermal
scanner are used to show the • Fluorescence
temperature variation of the body.
• Some washing powder contains
Our body radiates infrared and
fluorescent chemicals which glow in
under infrared cameras, our images
sunlight. This makes your shirt look
appear in a variety of colors. The
whiter than white in daylight.
differences in color determine the
differences in temperature. For 6. X-ray
example, shades of blue and green  Practical Applications
indicate regions of colder
temperature; and red and yellow • Diagnosing bone fractures X-rays
indicate warmer temperature. are produced using an X-ray tube.
They are emitted when fast moving
● Night vision goggles use thermal electrons hit a metal target. Long
imaging technology to capture the wavelength X-rays can penetrate
infrared light being emitted as heat the flesh but not the bones that’s
by objects in the field of view. why it is used in diagnosing bone
fractures.
4. Visible Light
 Practical Applications • Airport security scanner - The
short wavelength X-rays can
• Enables us to see things around
penetrate through metals which can
us. It also gives light to the screen of
be used in airport security scanner.
most electronic devices.
7. Gamma Ray
• Artificial Lights like flashlight, lamp
 Practical Applications
etc. are any light source that
produce light instead of natural • Treat tumors and cancer through
lights produced by the sun. the process called radiotherapy. The
high-energy rays of gamma destroys
• Optical fibers One use of optical
cancer cells in the area where it is
fibers in medicine is endoscope, a
given. Gamma rays sterilize surgical
flexible tube with tiny camera that
instruments because they easily
is used to observe the internal parts
penetrate through materials and
of the body.
the energy they release kills
5. Ultraviolet (UV) bacteria and other microorganisms.
 Practical Applications
Effects of Electromagnetic (EM) radiation on
• Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in living things and the environment
sunlight interact with a protein (7-
From the practical applications of EM waves
DHC) in the skin, converting it into
discussed above, we can conclude that these
vitamin D3, the active form of
waves are significant to us. But, even essential
vitamin D, which is essential for
forms of radiation can be harmful in excessive
maintaining healthy bones and
amount.
teeth.
The effect of EM radiation on organisms and the
• Security markings Sensitive
environment depends on how much energy it
documents such as credit cards,
carries. Radiation can be non-ionizing and Reflection in Plane Mirror
ionizing. Non-ionizing radiation does not have
When light hits an object, every part of that
enough energy to remove electrons from atoms
object reflects light in all direction. Some of the
and molecules.
reflected light reaches our eyes. Thus, we can
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light see an object
and ultraviolet are nonionizing radiation. We are
Characteristics of images formed by a plane
exposed to low levels of non-ionizing radiation
mirror:
every day. When the exposure is intense and
direct, it may result in damage to tissue due to 1. Image is virtual;
heat. Right amount of non-ionizing radiation like
UV rays maintain the proper mechanism of 2. Same size as the object;
ecosystem. 3. Same orientation as the object; and
High-energy EM waves like x-rays and gamma 4. Same distance from the mirror as the object.
rays are considered as ionizing radiation. We are
also exposed to low levels of ionizing radiation Types of Reflection of Light
that comes from the atmosphere. This means a. Specular/Regular reflection. It is defined as
that the usual amount of ionizing radiation from light reflected from a smooth surface at a
natural sources absorbed by our bodies is small. definite angle.
Our main exposure to ionizing radiation comes b. Diffused/Irregular Reflection. It is produced
from manmade sources through the use of by rough surfaces that tend to reflect light in all
diagnostic medical exams. Excessive exposure to directions.
these radiations can alter molecules within the
cells and may cause eventual harm such as skin The phenomenon by which a ray of light
or tissue damage, cancer and death. changes the direction of propagation when it
strikes a boundary between different media
When handled improperly, radioactive pollution through which it cannot pass is described as the
may occur, where the air, soil and water will be reflection of light.
contaminated. This pollution may eventually
make its way up to the food chain where all If the bundle of light rays is incident upon a
forms of life may be affected. smooth surface, then the light rays reflect and
remain concentrated in a bundle upon leaving
the surface. On the other hand, if the surface is
Module 3: Qualitative Characteristics of Images microscopically rough, the light rays will reflect
and diffuse in many different directions.
Reflection of Light in Mirrors The laws of
reflection state that:

1. the incident ray, the reflected ray, and the

normal line to the reflecting surface all lie in the
same plane; and

2. the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of

reflection.
Mirror Left-Right Reversal

If you view an image of yourself in a plane

mirror (perhaps a bathroom mirror), you will
quickly notice that there is an apparent left-right
reversal of the image. That is, if you raise your
left hand, you will notice that the image raises
what would seem to be its right hand. If you
raise your right hand, the image raises what
would seem to be its left hand. This is often
termed left-right reversal.
Reflection on Spherical Mirrors

Most curved mirrors are called spherical mirrors

because their shape follows the surface of a
sphere.