Electromagnetic Radiation

Electromagnetic Radiation is a form of energy that is produced by oscillating electric and magnetic disturbance, or by the movement of electrically charged particles traveling through a medium.

Overview

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. The behavior of EMR depends on its wavelength. When EMR interacts with single atoms and molecules, its behavior also depends on the amount of energy per quantum it carries.

Properties

EMR carries energy, sometimes called radiant energy, through space continuously away from the source. This is not affected by the presence of a material medium, i.e., electromagnetic waves can move through a vacuum.

Spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The "electromagnetic spectrum" of an object is the characteristic distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by that particular object.

Health Effects

Exposure to electromagnetic radiation can have various health effects. The type and severity of effect depends on the type of radiation, the duration, frequency, and intensity of exposure.

See Also

• Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Radiation
• Radio Waves
• Microwaves
• Infrared
• Light
• Ultraviolet
• X-rays
• Gamma Rays

References

Electromagnetic Radiation Resources
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