VIRTUAL LABS
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Electromagnetic Waves
What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
When electrically charged particles move, electromagnetic waves are produced. These waves travel outward, or radiate, from the charged particles. Visible light is an electromagnetic wave, as are radio waves, microwaves, infrared waves, ultraviolet waves, and X-ray. All the different types of electromagnetic waves form the electromagnetic spectrum.

All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum - 300,000,000 meters per second - but their frequencies and wavelengths vary. The frequency of a wave is the number of wavelengths that pass a point in one second. Frequency is measured in hertz, where one hertz means one wavelength passes by every second. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves, so wavelength is the distance from one crest or trough to the next. In a transverse wave, matter moves back and forth at right angles to the direction the wave travels.

Because all electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed, the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave decreases as the frequency increases. So, waves with short wavelengths have high frequencies. The energy carried by an electromagnetic wave increases as the frequency of the wave increases; waves with higher frequencies carry more energy.

The wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic waves vary greatly. For example, wavelengths range from many meters for radio waves to lengths much smaller than the size of atoms for gamma rays. Scientific notation can be used to express numbers that are very small or very large. In scientific notation, a number is expressed as a decimal times 10 raised to a power.

In this Virtual Lab, you will match descriptions of types of electromagnetic radiation to animations of waves. Then, you will calculate the wavelength of each wave. The speed of a wave equals its frequency times its wavelength. To view this formula click Formula.

After you have completed the above steps, order the types of electromagnetic radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum by their frequency and wavelength.

Objectives:

  • Match visual representations of waves to their written descriptions.
  • Identify and describe the parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  • Compare and order different types of electromagnetic waves by frequency, wavelength, and energy.

Procedure:

1. Click a wave tile. Read the information about that type of wave, including its frequency range.

2. Click the dial until you find the matching frequency. Then click Match. If you are correct, the wave tile will flash, and the formula used to find the wavelength of a wave will appear.

3. Read this formula. Then click Find Wavelength.

4. View the completed information about the wave. Use this information to enter the wave type in the Table.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 for all seven wave tiles.

6. Using the information you found about each wave, drag each wave tile to its correct spot on the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Click Check to check your work.

7. Repeat step 6 until all seven wave tiles are in their correct locations.

8. Complete the Journal questions.

Match
  • Frequency:
  • Wavelength:
  • Information:
Check
Reset
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Infrared radiation
wave speed frequency = wavelength
300,000,000m/s asfdfsdf  
 
= m
Find Wavelength