Essay On Electromagnetic Radiation

The electromagnetic spectrum is all around us and serves many beneficial and lifesaving purposes every day. There is no escaping it, because much of the spectrum cannot be seen. We can tell it has taken place by getting a tan or sunburn or by the fact that our plants and flowers thrive and grow. This includes x-rays, gamma rays, visible, ultraviolet, infrared light, radio waves and microwaves. While it has many useful purposes, it can also have many negative consequences due to overexposure, some that can even be very fatal. Within this paper we will take a deeper look at what electromagnetic radiation is, how it is produced and detected, as well as the useful purposes and what we can do to protect ourselves from overexposure.

Electromagnetic radiation is the energy result that occurs when electrically charged particles travel through matter or empty space. These particles interact at a ninety degree angle with magnetic fields. The electric field is in a vertical plane, while the magnetic field is in a horizontal plane. This relationship between the electric and magnetic fields causes a disturbance, and thus a combined moving wave, to be formed from the

Heating the atom causes it to absorb energy. The atom does not like being in this high energy state. In order for the atom to settle back into its original state, it gives off an electromagnetic wave. The wave can take the form of heat, light, ultraviolet, or a number of other electromagnetic wave types. Just about everything gives off electromagnetic radiation. One example, is a neon sign. By putting electricity through the neon tubes, it will excite and add energy to the neon atoms causing them to absorb the energy, putting them in a high energy state. Light bulbs work in the same manner, producing radiation waves. Ultraviolet rays are produced from the sun. Infrared rays can be produced by electronic devices and