Electromagnetic radiation
(Redirected from Electromagnetic wave)
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is a form of energy that is all around us and takes many forms, such as radio waves, microwaves, X-rays and gamma rays. Sunlight is also a form of EM energy, but visible light is only a small portion of the EM spectrum, which contains a broad range of electromagnetic wavelengths.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Electromagnetic radiation is a type of energy that is commonly known as light. Generally speaking, we say that light travels in waves, and all electromagnetic radiation travels at the same speed which is about 3.0 * 10^8 meters per second through a vacuum. We call this the speed of light. Nothing can go faster than the speed of light.
Types of Electromagnetic Radiation[edit | edit source]
The different types of electromagnetic radiation shown in the electromagnetic spectrum are produced by different processes. These are:
- Radio Waves: Produced by the acceleration of an electron in a radio antenna.
- Microwaves: Produced by special vacuum tubes (klystrons, magnetrons and Gunn diodes).
- Infrared: Produced by the vibration and rotation of atoms and molecules (also by an incandescent object).
- Visible Light: Produced by transitions of outer shell electrons in atoms excited by heat or light.
- Ultraviolet: Produced by transitions of inner shell electrons in atoms excited by heat or light.
- X-Rays: Produced by high energy processes such as bombarding a metal target in a vacuum with high-speed electrons.
- Gamma Rays: Produced by nuclear processes such as radioactive decay and nuclear reactions.
Health Effects[edit | edit source]
Exposure to certain forms of electromagnetic radiation can be harmful. The higher the frequency of the radiation, the more damage it is likely to cause to the body: microwaves can burn skin, X-rays can damage cells and gamma radiation can cause radiation sickness.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Radio Waves
- Microwaves
- Infrared
- Visible Light
- Ultraviolet
- X-Rays
- Gamma Rays
| Electromagnetic radiation Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
