Science Bank: Physics
Programme 6: Electromagnetic Spectrum
Activity 1 worksheet: The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Look at the statements below. Each one describes a feature of one part of the
electromagnetic spectrum. From the word bank below, choose the part that is being
described.
1. This is made up of three colours and can be detected by the human eye.
2. These waves have the lowest energy of the electromagnetic spectrum.
3. These can be used to see what is inside bags at airports.
4. These cause sun burn.
5. These waves are absorbed by water molecules and can be used for cooking food quickly.
6. These waves are given off by warm bodies, before they start to glow.
7. These waves have the shortest wavelength and are given out by radioactive atoms.
8. These waves have the longest wavelength and can carry messages.
9. These waves are used for carrying messages but don’t pass through solid objects.
10.These waves can cause skin cancer.
Word bank
radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet waves, X-rays,
© 2000 Channel Four Television Corporation
gamma rays
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Science Bank: Physics
Programme 6: Electromagnetic Spectrum
Activity 1 answersheet: The Electromagnetic Spectrum
1. Visible light is made up of three colours and can be detected by the human eye.
2. Radio waves have the lowest energy of the electromagnetic spectrum.
3. X-rays can be used to see what is inside bags at airports.
4. Ultraviolet rays cause sun burn.
5. Microwaves are absorbed by water molecules and can be used for cooking food quickly.
6. Infrared waves are given off by warm bodies, before they start to glow.
7. Gamma rays have the shortest wavelength and are given out by radioactive atoms.
8. Radio waves have the longest wavelength and can carry messages.
9. Microwaves are used for carrying messages but don’t pass through solid objects.
10.Ultraviolet waves can cause skin cancer.
© 2000 Channel Four Television Corporation
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Science Bank: Physics
Programme 6: Electromagnetic Spectrum
Activity 2 worksheet: Electromagnetic Spectrum on the web
The electromagnetic spectrum is made of waves with wavelengths ranging from a few kilometres
(radio waves) to millionths of a millimetre (gamma rays). All the waves travel through free space at
the speed of light. However, the other properties of the waves vary as we go from one end of the
spectrum to the other. Radio waves are very different from gamma rays.
For convenience the spectrum is often split into 7 regions:
radio waves
microwaves
infrared
visible light
ultraviolet
X-rays
gamma rays
The properties of the waves within each region are more or less constant. Also, the way that the
waves in a given region are produced and detected is usually the same. But, in different regions, the
waves are produced and detected differently.
What to do
Choose one of the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and use the Internet to find out as much
as you can about:
its wavelengths and frequencies
what it is used for
what its properties are and why it is suitable for its use
how the waves are produced and how they are received
whether the waves are safe or harmful
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To search the Internet, you need to go to a search site, such as Altavista
(http://www.altavista.com) which uses a ‘search engine’. This is a page with a blank space. You can
type the words you want to find into the blank space then click on the search button.
Search hints
1. You should always include the phrase ‘electromagnetic spectrum’ in your search. In
Altavista, you do this by keeping the phrase in inverted commas.
2. You should try to narrow down your search by specifying as many keywords as
possible. In Altavista, you do this by putting a + sign before each word that you want
included. So, for example, your search might be:
+radio +wavelength + ’electromagnetic spectrum’ + antenna
This would make the search engine find articles that contained all three words and the phrase.
© 2000 Channel Four Television Corporation
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