What+is+the+electromagnetic+spectrum?+-+R

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum? By: Cameron F.  2012 In 1873, James Clerk Maxwell published a theory on the electromagnetic spectrum. He believed that radiation moved at the speed of light across space. Scientist use the name electromagnetic spectrum to refer to the different types of radiation as a group. Some radiation you can see, others you can feel or hear, and yet others you cannot sense at all. Each type of radiation has its own uses. For instance, some radiation is used for communication like radios, telephones and television.
 * __Introduction __**

. . . . . . . . . . Microwaves cook your dinner in minutes and help scientist learn about the universe. . . Infrared light is beyond the end of the visible range for humans. Night vision goggles helps our military see the infrared light given off by our skin. . . . . Visible light is the only part of the spectrum that the human eye can see. . . Ultraviolet light is produced by the sun and can cause sun burn. UVB is the main source of sun burn and skin cancer. . . X-rays are used by doctors to see our bones for medical treatment. . . Gamma waves are emitted by nuclear power plants and by our universe. Gamma rays are to treat cancer. . . <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">. ||
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Types of Electromagnetic Radiation __**
 * [[image:researchthetopic/Spectrum - vertical electromangtic spectrum CF.jpg width="200" height="532" caption="Figure 2 Examples of the Electromagnetic Spectrum"]] || Radio waves are used for wireless transmission of sound, information, communication, and aircraft navigation.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Radiation is made up of photons that travel at the speed of light. Photons are massless particles that contain energy. These photons travel in a wavelike pattern. Scientist measure the wavelength from crest to crest or top to top of the wave.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Radiation __**



__**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">How to measure **__**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Frequency **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Scientist also measure the energy contained by the radiation wave form by measuring the frequency. Frequency is measured in Hertz or cycles per second. You measure frequency by counting how many times per second a wave moves across the line of zero. Radio waves have the lowest frequency but the longest wavelength and Gamma waves have the highest frequency but the shortest wave length.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Electromagnetic spectrum and wavelength __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The electromagnetic spectrum can be ordered from longest wavelength and lowest energy to shortest wavelength and highest energy starting from radio waves, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-Rays, and ending with Gamma rays.




 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Interesting Facts __**
 * You deal with the electromagnetic spectrum every day. You use radio waves every day when you when you watch your favorite TV show, listen to the newest hit song on the radio or talk to your friends on the phone.
 * You tune into a station by stetting your radio to the same frequency as the radio station is sending out its waves.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The universe is the biggest producer of gamma-rays.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The wavelength of a radio wave can be the large as the length of a football field.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The wavelength of visible light can be as small as a virus.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Each color of the rainbow has its own wavelength. Red has the longest wavelength, then orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Glossary of Terms __**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Crest **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> – top of wave
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Electromagnetic wave **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">– electric and magnetic charges that apply influence
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Frequency **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">- How many times a wave crosses the line of zero; the unit of measure is Hertz (cycles) per second.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Photons **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">- massless particles that contain energy
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Radiation **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">- photons that travel in waves at the speed of light
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Spectrum **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> – a continuous group or range of objects such as waves
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Though **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">– valley or bottom of wave
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Wavelength **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> – length of the wave measured from crest to crest


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Citations __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Dumas, Leila. //Holt science and technology sound and light//. Orlando: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2007. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Faculty of Education. "The Electromagnetic Spectrum." Science Learning Sparking Fresh Thinking.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The University of Waikato, 26 August 2010. Web. 24 September 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Gregersen, Erik. //Physics Explained The Britannica Guide to Sound and Light//. New York: Britannica Educational Pub. in association with Rosen Educational Services, 2011. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Kahan, Peter. //Science Explorer Motion Forces and Energy.// Needham, Massachusetts. Prentice Hall, 2000. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Mattson, Barb. “The Electromagnetic Spectrum.” NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. NASA, 3/2/2010. Web. 26 September 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">McGrath, Kimberley A., ed. //The Gale Encyclopedia of Science//. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Netting, Ruth. “The Electromagnetic Spectrum.” //National Aeronautics and Space Administration.// NASA. 25 February 2011. Web. 21 September, 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">"Physics." //Compton's by Britannica//. //Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition//.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 26 Sept. 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Science Mission Directorate. "Introduction to the Electromagnetic Spectrum" __Mission: Science__. 2010. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 26 Sep. 2012

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Silverstein, Alvin, Virginia Sliverstein, and Laura Silverstein Nunn. //Energy//. Brookfield: Twenty-First Century Books, 1998. Print.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Physics: A World in Motion: Biomedical Applications of EMR //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">. Prod. Distribution Access. Alberta Education, 1998. //Discovery Education//. Web. 21 September 2012.