AQA Physics 6.6.2.4
Uses and applications of electromagnetic waves
Every part of the electromagnetic spectrum has a job. Match each use to its wave.
Combined Science · Foundation tier
Start here
A remote and an X-ray.
A TV remote sends an invisible signal to the television. In hospital, an X-ray machine takes a picture of a broken bone.
If you had to guess, are the two signals the same kind of wave, or different kinds?
The spectrum and its uses
One family of waves, many jobs.
All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed through a vacuum. They differ in wavelength and frequency, and that is what makes each type suited to different uses.
- Radio waves
- Television and radio.
- Microwaves
- Satellite communications; cooking food.
- Infrared
- Electrical heaters; cooking food; infrared cameras.
- Visible light
- Fibre optic communications.
- Ultraviolet
- Energy efficient lamps; sun tanning.
- X-rays and gamma rays
- Medical imaging and treatments.
Some uses carry risks. Ultraviolet can make skin age prematurely and increases the risk of skin cancer, so sun tanning has a cost. X-rays and gamma rays are ionising radiation, which can cause the mutation of genes and cancer, so exposure is kept as low as possible.
Sort
Drop each use onto its wave.
Place every use on the part of the spectrum it uses.
Tap a card, then tap the box it belongs in. Tap a placed card to take it back.
Think again · imaging and treating
“Gamma rays are used to take pictures of broken bones.”
Your call
ChooseA doctor needs an image of a broken arm. Which wave is used?
Command words in this lesson
- Give
- One use for the wave named. A word or a phrase.
- Identify
- Name the wave from the use described.
- Explain
- Link a use to its risk: ultraviolet, skin damage; X-rays and gamma, ionising.
Key fact
Radio: TV and radio. Microwaves: satellites, cooking. Infrared: heaters, cooking, cameras. Visible: fibre optics. Ultraviolet: energy efficient lamps, sun tanning. X-rays and gamma rays: medical imaging and treatments.
Key note · AQA 6.6.2.4
Uses of electromagnetic waves
- Radio waves: television and radio.
- Microwaves: satellite communications, cooking food.
- Infrared: electrical heaters, cooking food, infrared cameras.
- Visible light: fibre optic communications.
- Ultraviolet: energy efficient lamps, sun tanning (risk: premature skin ageing, skin cancer).
- X-rays and gamma rays: medical imaging and treatments. Both ionising: mutation of genes and cancer.
Photograph this card. Tomorrow, cover it and say each line first.
Previous and next
Connects to
Ask MrBadmus
Mixing up which wave does which job?
The spectrum is drawn in order, not to scale: real wavelengths range from kilometres to far smaller than an atom.