Did the post title grab your attention? How on earth can there be a connection between the two? Well, let's start our study of light waves and before I am done you will know what rattlesnakes have to do with light! Are you ready? Let's begin.
Electromagnetic waves carry energy from the sun through empty space. We benefit from electromagnetic waves for a number of reasons. However, exposure to too much electromagnetic radiation can be harmful. We will get into these things in a few moments.
First, let's start with watch an electromagnetic wave is composed of. When we looked at electromagnetic waves we learned that they are composed of transverse waves. Two transverse waves overlap--one consisting electrical energy and one consisting of magnetic energy--hence the term electromagnetic.
The high points on the transverse wave are called crests, while the low points are called troughs. These are two of the main characteristics of transverse waves. Energy travels perpendicular from the force applied. In other words, as the force applied moves in a vertical direction while the energy travels horizontally.
The amplitude of the wave is the distance between the rest position of the wave and the crest or the rest position and the trough. The greater the distance, the greater the energy. The shorter the distance, the lower the energy in the wave. In the image below, are two examples between the relationship between amplitude and the amount of energy in a wave. The black line represents the rest position of the wave.
Now amplitude is not the only way that waves appear different from one another. Wavelength and frequency play a role in how waves appear differently. Wavelength is the distance between two corresponding parts (crest to crest or trough to trough). The frequency of waves is the number of waves that pass a given point during a certain amount of time. There is a relationship between wavelength and frequency. Do you see it? What happens to the frequency of waves when the distance between two corresponding parts is great? What happens when the wavelength between those two corresponding parts is small? Wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional. This means that the longer the wavelength the shorter the frequency and the shorter the wavelength the greater the frequency of waves that pass through a given point.
Waves at different wavelengths must have different purposes right? Well of course they do! Have you heard of the electromagnetic spectrum? First let's define spectrum. A spectrum is an array of entities ordered based on magnitude (Dictionary.com, 2012). The electromagnetic spectrum is an array of light waves organized from largest wavelength to smallest wavelength. The longest wavelengths are called radio waves, while the smallest wavelengths are gamma rays.
These are only two of the several types of electromagnetic waves. Observe the following images. What do you see as the source of electromagnetic waves or energy? As we have discussed before, the sun is the source of electromagnetic waves (also known as electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic energy).
Radio waves are the longest electromagnetic waves in the spectrum. We are able to listen to broadcasts and use our microwave ovens at this wave length.
Microwaves are the next in line and these waves are popular in police radars or scanners. This allows police officers to determine the speeds at which vehicles are traveling.
Infrared waves are waves are heat waves. We use these waves to help us change the TV channel with a remote. This type of wave is also useful in the military when night vision is required to locate people.
Visible light is next and perhaps the one to which you are most familiar. These are the colors of the rainbow, which exist at different wavelengths themselves within the spectrum. We will spend some time talking about visible light over the course of the next couple of weeks.
Ultraviolet rays are another popular type of wave that you are familiar with because it is one we always here of when we need to avoid is when outdoors.
X rays allow medical professional to observe issues with your bones. The waves that radiate through the body pass through the human tissue, but become absorbed by the bone and foreign objects allowing doctors to determine the health of your bones. Have you ever wondered why you need to wear that heavy lead aprons? Well the whole body does not require exposure to the radiation from X rays because it can damage organs in your body. The apron is a way of protecting yourself from any unnecessary exposure to these light waves.
Gamma rays are the shortest and last of the light waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves also have the highest frequency of all the waves along the spectrum.They are generated from nuclear reactions and radioactive material. While these types of waves are known to be used in the killing of cancer cells, too much exposure is not good as well.
At the beginning of this post, I said that there was a connection between the electromagnetic spectrum and rattlesnakes. Are you ready to find out what that connection may be? Well, I like to use creative ways to remember the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. One mnemonic device that seems to work well has to do with rattlesnakes. While I absolutely hate snakes, I really like this catchy statement:
"Rattlesnakes May Inject Venom Under eXtreme Grief."
The bold letter in each word represents one of each of the waves along the spectrum from greatest wavelength to shortest wavelength. Use this method to remember the order of the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.
I think this is enough information to get you started. In the next post, I will talk about how light waves behave, the variables that affect the speed of light waves, and how light waves interact with opaque, translucent, and transparent materials.
Happy Learning!
Electromagnetic waves carry energy from the sun through empty space. We benefit from electromagnetic waves for a number of reasons. However, exposure to too much electromagnetic radiation can be harmful. We will get into these things in a few moments.
First, let's start with watch an electromagnetic wave is composed of. When we looked at electromagnetic waves we learned that they are composed of transverse waves. Two transverse waves overlap--one consisting electrical energy and one consisting of magnetic energy--hence the term electromagnetic.
 |
| (c) Prince, 2012 |
The high points on the transverse wave are called crests, while the low points are called troughs. These are two of the main characteristics of transverse waves. Energy travels perpendicular from the force applied. In other words, as the force applied moves in a vertical direction while the energy travels horizontally.
The amplitude of the wave is the distance between the rest position of the wave and the crest or the rest position and the trough. The greater the distance, the greater the energy. The shorter the distance, the lower the energy in the wave. In the image below, are two examples between the relationship between amplitude and the amount of energy in a wave. The black line represents the rest position of the wave.
 |
| Source: The Physics Classroom, 2012 |
 |
| Source: Science News for Kids, 2008 |
These are only two of the several types of electromagnetic waves. Observe the following images. What do you see as the source of electromagnetic waves or energy? As we have discussed before, the sun is the source of electromagnetic waves (also known as electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic energy).
 |
| Source: Di Vapor, 2009 |
 |
| Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, n.d. |
Microwaves are the next in line and these waves are popular in police radars or scanners. This allows police officers to determine the speeds at which vehicles are traveling.
Infrared waves are waves are heat waves. We use these waves to help us change the TV channel with a remote. This type of wave is also useful in the military when night vision is required to locate people.
Visible light is next and perhaps the one to which you are most familiar. These are the colors of the rainbow, which exist at different wavelengths themselves within the spectrum. We will spend some time talking about visible light over the course of the next couple of weeks.
Ultraviolet rays are another popular type of wave that you are familiar with because it is one we always here of when we need to avoid is when outdoors.
X rays allow medical professional to observe issues with your bones. The waves that radiate through the body pass through the human tissue, but become absorbed by the bone and foreign objects allowing doctors to determine the health of your bones. Have you ever wondered why you need to wear that heavy lead aprons? Well the whole body does not require exposure to the radiation from X rays because it can damage organs in your body. The apron is a way of protecting yourself from any unnecessary exposure to these light waves.
Gamma rays are the shortest and last of the light waves in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves also have the highest frequency of all the waves along the spectrum.They are generated from nuclear reactions and radioactive material. While these types of waves are known to be used in the killing of cancer cells, too much exposure is not good as well.
 |
| Source: Super Coloring, n.d. |
"Rattlesnakes May Inject Venom Under eXtreme Grief."
The bold letter in each word represents one of each of the waves along the spectrum from greatest wavelength to shortest wavelength. Use this method to remember the order of the waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.
I think this is enough information to get you started. In the next post, I will talk about how light waves behave, the variables that affect the speed of light waves, and how light waves interact with opaque, translucent, and transparent materials.
Happy Learning!
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