Which Is The Best Example Of How Electromagnetic Energy Is Used In Everyday Life?

Electromagnetism is one of those five dollar words (with vi syllables!) that has the power to instantly transport us back to high school scientific discipline class. But here's the thing: you don't accept to be a physicist to understand and appreciate electromagnetism and electromagnetic free energy .

Electromagnetic free energy is one of nature'southward fundamental forces, and it has enough of important applications in today'southward globe. Get prepare to learn more than almost how this electrifying-sounding force matters to y'all and the universe equally we know it.

What Is Electromagnetic Free energy?

Too known as electromagnetic radiation, EM radiation, and electromagnetism , electromagnetic free energy is a term used to draw the various energies that travel equally wavelengths through space at the speed of ligh t. EM radiations doesn't have mass or charge. Rather, it travels in a bundle of light free energy called photons .

E lectromagnetic free energy is 1 of the 4 fundamental forces of nature — forth with the stiff force, the weak force, and the gravitational strength. These forces have different strength levels and piece of work beyond varying ranges. For example, both electromagnetic and gravitational forces have an infinite range, still gravity is the weakest.

Electromagnetic wavelengths are measured on the electromagnetic spectrum and each has its own unique properties.

How Does Electromagnetic Energy Piece of work?

We can remember of electromagnetic waves the same way we might think of a prepare of waves at the beach: there are peaks and troughs that travel in a relatively regular pattern and they utilise energy to motility.

Electromagnetic radiation can be described in 3 means: energy, wavelength, or frequency .

Wavelengths are typically measured in standard units, and when used to draw electromagnetic waves , it'southward usually in meters (m). Going back to our beach example, the distance between the peaks of each wave is what you lot can consider the wavelength.

The frequency of these waves are measured in Hertz (hz), megahertz (MHz), and gigahertz (Ghz), units you may be familiar with on your machine radio. The higher the frequency of an electromagnetic wave , the more electromagnetic free energy it carries.

Interestingly, the frequency of an electromagnetic moving ridge is inversely proportional to its wavelength , which means that the larger the frequency of such a wave, the shorter its wavelength , and vice versa.

To conclude our beach metaphor, there's ane last way to measure out waves, and that's past looking at their amplitude. A wave's aamplitude —whether it'southward a sound moving ridge or 1 crashing on a embankment—is measured by looking at the difference between the moving ridge's peak and its trough.

What Is An Electromagnetic Field?

Electromagnetic fields are the product of EM radiations , and oftentimes are simply referred to as radiation . These electromagnetic fields tin can exist dangerous to humans if the frequency of the EM radiations —measured in Hertz , megahertz ( MHz ), and gigahertz ( GHz )—is too high.

Magnetic fields are produced by electric charges, and the greater that accuse, the stronger the magnetic field . This has practical applications considering it ways that we can increase or decrease an electric charge to fine-tune magnetic fields to our purposes.

What Is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

Not every electromagnetic wave is the same. Waves are characterized forth an electromagnetic spectrum ( EM spectrum ) and they differ in both frequency and wavelength . While these waves tin exist anywhere along a vast spectrum, they come in vii unlike varieties beyond a range of frequencies and a range of wavelengths , all of which yous've probable heard before. As mentioned, they besides have different degrees of energy.

The entire electromagnetic spectrum (going from the electromagnetic waves with the longest wavelengths to those with the shortest) is every bit follows:

1. Radio waves
2. Microwaves
3. Infrared radiations
4. Visible low-cal
5. Ultraviolet radiations (UV)
6. X-rays
7. Gamma rays

What Are the seven Types of Electromagnetic Energy?

There are seven categories of radiations on the electromagnetic spectrum. Each has its own wavelength and frequency. Let'south take a closer look at each one and their properties.

Radio Waves

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Radio waves might be the near commonly known electromagnetic moving ridge . They have longer wavelengths (a keen reader might recall that this also ways they have very depression frequencies ).

Radio waves are created when electrical current is applied to an antenna—a metal rod—causing it to vibrate at a specific frequency and generate an electromagnetic moving ridge with a specific wavelength .

Nosotros use radio waves all the time in our cars, but radio waves are also used in GPS positioning, tv set broadcasting, high-energy emissions , wireless networks, remote controls, and cell phone networks. It'south no surprise then that the low levels of radiation your cell phone emits is chosen radio frequency .

The next time y'all use your phone to make a call or your remote to change the channel, you'll take electromagnetic radiation to thank!

Microwaves

Microwaves are a blazon of radio moving ridge that as well have long wavelengths and are also considered to exist depression frequency waveforms. Microwaves are the primary electromagnetic moving ridge used in radar. If you've tuned in to your local news to see a meteorologist forecast the weather recently, you have microwaves to give thanks.

We too employ microwaves in—surprise!— microwave ovens . These work by using electromagnetic radiation to vibrate the diminutive particles in your food , turning electromagnetic energy into thermal free energy to heats upwardly your meal. Information technology's however another instance of electromagnetic energy at work for you.

Infrared Radiation

Infrared radiation is also commonly referred to as infrared calorie-free (IR, for curt) or infrared waves. After radio waves and microwaves, it'south the next step down in wavelengths forth the electromagnetic spectrum . These waves are invisible to the human eye , just special cameras that capture these waves can aid us see at night (think night-vision goggles) or run into sources of heat (thermal cameras).

Infrared radiations is also important to astronomers and researchers at NASA , who use it to observe faraway stars, or fields of gas or dust that might otherwise be invisible to even our most advanced equipment.

Visible Low-cal

Believe it or not, visible calorie-free is a form of electromagnetic free energy . These electromagnetic waves have shorter wavelengths than infrared waves or radio waves , and therefore a college frequency—and more energy.

The sun emits electromagnetic free energy in electromagnetic waves all across the electromagnetic spectrum , but the visible light waves it emits are the strongest . That's part of the reason why you tin't stare at the sun —the intensity of the visible calorie-free is too much for the human eye !

We tin further differentiate visible light into the visible spectrum . Varying the wavelengths of visible light gives united states all of the different colors the human eye is capable of perceiving. This is nearly easily understood past shining white light through a prism , which creates refraction of that light into light of varying wavelengths , and therefore the different colors of the rainbow.

Ultraviolet Radiation

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Ultraviolet radiation (or ultraviolet light) is perhaps best known but equally UV rays. This form of electromagnetic radiations has short wavelengths , which means that ultraviolet light has a high frequency . Therefore, it contains  more electromagnetic free energy than visible light , microwaves, or radio waves .

It's at this point that electromagnetic radiation can start to get dangerous for humans if proper precautions are not taken. Why? Because dissimilar radio waves, microwaves, and infrared radiation, UV radiation is ionizing radiations . (It's also worth noting that X-rays and gamma rays are also ionizing.)

It'southward no wonder that strong ultraviolet radiation is capable of damaging our pare. As such, we employ UV protection to prevent sunburn —and potentially even more serious consequences. Studies show that UV radiation is strong enough to damage DNA and potentially lead to cancer.

Amazingly, the sun produces so much UV radiation that, were information technology non for the Earth'southward atmosphere filtering out many of these harmful rays, life as nosotros know it would not exist on land . Thank goodness for our ozone layer!

There are many practical applications for UV low-cal , ranging from novelty items like blacklights (hello glow-in-the-dark posters!) and bogus tanning (non a expert idea) to cancer treatments and surface sterilization devices.

X-Rays

We're now getting shut to the tail terminate of the EM spectrum . While the wavelengths are growing vanishingly pocket-size, the energy and frequency of these electromagnetic waves are rise dramatically.

X-rays can potentially pose dangers to living beings because this blazon of radiations can cause molecular harm if non tightly controlled.

The almost common 10-ray awarding we all know is radiology , which uses these electromagnetic waves to produce images of the interior of the human body that would otherwise be unavailable to us. Whether you're getting a mammogram, going through airport security, or having your teeth checked at the dentist, Ten-rays are a form of electromagnetic energy that we normally interact with at various points in our lives.

Gamma Rays

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Gamma rays exist at the far cease of the electromagnetic spectrum , with the shortest wavelengths only highest frequencies . Gamma rays are also the highest energy electromagnetic waves , and every bit such, they pose the largest threat to biological life.

In pop culture, you lot may have heard of this grade of electromagnetic free energy in the globe of comic books, where gamma rays are oftentimes included in backstories to explicate how a superhero got his or her superpowers.

In real life, gamma rays are considered highly unsafe. Thankfully, the sources of these rays are relatively limited . Cosmic rays, thunderstorms, and solar flares tin can all produce these electromagnetic waves , every bit can radioactive decay.

Gamma rays and X-rays are both sources of ionizing radiation, which is defined as "a blazon of free energy released by atoms that travels in the form of electromagnetic waves ." In low doses, ionizing radiation can cause cancer, and in high doses it can destroy biological life. For these reasons, ionizing radiation sources like gamma rays and X-rays are tightly controlled.

Electromagnetic Waves Play an Important Part in Your Life

Electromagnetic free energy is all effectually us, although well-nigh of the fourth dimension we're only aware of a very limited portion of the electromagnetic spectrum — visible lite . Nonetheless, electromagnetic waves are vital to how we sense and experience the world. From radio and prison cell phones to microwaves, X-rays, and beyond, at that place are endless means nosotros accept reward of all the electromagnetic energy the universe has to offer.

As our world becomes always more modernized and engineering continues to astonish us, it'southward prissy to accept a step dorsum and think about the bigger picture. While you might not remember nigh it every moment, electromagnetic energy is yet another reminder of how the invisible forces in our world affect nearly every aspect of our everyday lives.

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Which Is The Best Example Of How Electromagnetic Energy Is Used In Everyday Life?,

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