ELECTRICITY

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MAGNET
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ELECTROMAGNETISM
E C C R T * T

I L E * A O *

G E U T N * R

M P M E * S C
 NATURE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC
WAVES

In this lesson, you will be introduced

to the nature of electromagnetic waves and
on how they are produced and transmitted.
You are also expected to be able to explain
how these waves are considered to be
comprised of both electric and magnetic
fields.
 TRUE OR FALSE
1.Electromagnetic waves transfer energy through a
vacuum.
2.A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy.
3.EM waves travel at the speed of 4x108 m/s.
4.Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves
consisting of changing electric fields and changing
magnetic fields.
5.Most EM waves have the same speed.
 At the end of this lesson , you are able to
learn about the interrelationship between
electricity and magnetism. And to discover how
an electric field could create a magnetic field and
vice versa.
A magnetic field is created around a wire
that conducts electric current. A coiled wire,
known as a solenoid, acts as a magnet when
current flows through it. A solenoid with a core of
iron acts as a strong magnet which is called as
electromagnet.
 This time, you will be introduced to the
nature of an electromagnetic (EM) wave. As its name
suggests, it is considered to be of both electric and
magnetic in nature. In other words, an
electromagnetic wave contains an electric field and a
magnetic field. These fields are not made up of
matter similar to what is in a football field. Instead,
electric and magnetic fields are the regions through
which the push or pull of charged particles and
magnets is exerted. Charged particles and magnets
can push or pull certain objects without even
touching them.
 How are electromagnetic waves
produced?

Electromagnetic waves are produced by a charge

that changes its direction or speed. Electrons are charged
particles that can produce electric and magnetic fields. But
in order to create the vibrating electric and magnetic fields
that are the characteristics of an electromagnetic wave,
electrons must move. A charged particle, such as an
electron, moves back and forth, or vibrate. A changing
magnetic field produces an electric field and in the same
manner, a changing electric field produces a magnetic field.
 After knowing about how electromagnetic
waves are produced, this time, read on to be
informed on how they move into different
directions.

An electromagnetic wave is made up of an

electric field and a magnetic field positioned at right
angles to each other and to the direction of motion of
the wave (see Figure 1.1). Since these fields are located
at the right angles to the direction of motion of the
wave, electromagnetic waves are considered as
transverse waves. This means that both electric and
magnetic fields oscillate perpendicular to each other and
to the direction of the propagating wave.
 Like other waves, such as water
waves and waves on a rope,
electromagnetic waves carry energy
from one place to another. But unlike
other waves, electromagnetic waves do
not carry energy by causing matter to
vibrate. It is the electric and magnetic
fields that vibrate. This explains why
electromagnetic waves can travel in a
vacuum (where there is no matter).
 Electromagnetic waves travel in
a vacuum at a speed of 3x108 m/s
and denoted as c, the speed of light.
The speed is slightly slower in air,
glass, and any other material. To
appreciate just how great this speed
is, consider this: Light from the sun
travels 150 million kilometers to Earth
in about 8 minutes!
 Nothing known in the
universe travels faster than the
speed of light. Since all EM waves
have the same speed which is
equal to the speed of light, this
means that as the wavelength
decreases, the frequency of the
wave increases.
Properties of Electromagnetic
Waves
 They are produced by accelerated or
oscillating charge.
They do not require any material or medium
for propagation.
They travel in free space at the speed of
3x108 m/s.
Directions: Unscramble the words in Box B and match this
words to fill them into the appropriate blanks in Box A to
complete the statements below. Write the answer on a
separate sheet of paper. (3pts each)
Box A
1. A moving charge creates
_____________.
Box B
2. A changing magnetic field Scrambled Word/s
causes a changing ___________
3. The successive production of A.ME
electric and magnetic fields B.PEEDS
results to the creation of ________
wave. C.OESTCJB
4. An EM wave propagates
_____________ from the source.
D.WARDOUT
5. Electromagnetic waves do not E.CTNGMAEI LDFIE
need ____________ to transfer
energy. F.EEILCTRC IEDFL
THE PROPONENTS
OF
ELCTROMAGNETIC
WAVE THEORY
 In this lesson, you will learn how
the study of electromagnetic waves
came to be. It is here that you will find
out who were the proponents on the
formulation of the electromagnetic
theory. Furthermore, this lesson will
enable you to gain more information
about the scientists who made great
contributions to the development of this
theory.
 In the previous lesson, you have
learned about the nature of an
electromagnetic wave. You were also
able to discover how accelerating
electrons can produce electromagnetic
waves and that these waves are a
combination of electric and magnetic
fields. In addition, you have also studied
that EM waves transfer energy through a
vacuum at the speed of 3x108 m/s which
 The history of Electromagnetic
Wave Theory begins with ancient
measures to understand atmospheric
electricity, in particular, lightning. People
then had little understanding of
electricity and were unable to explain the
phenomena. Scientific understanding
about the nature of electricity grew
throughout the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries through the work of
 During the19th century, it had
become clear that electricity and
magnetism were related, and their
theories were unified: Whenever charges
are in motion, electric current results,
and magnetism is due to electric current.
The source for electric field is electric
charge, whereas that for magnetic field is
the electric current (charges in motion).
 Through the years, the
advancement on the
knowledge regarding
electromagnetic waves led
us to a modern
technological world.
 ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE
THEORY
When you studied wave motion, you
have known that a disturbance produces waves
that can be transmitted through a medium. In
the same way, electromagnetic waves are also
produced by a disturbance caused by a
vibrating charge. When the charge is moved,
the electric field around it is changed.
 Recall Oersted’s discovery
which states that “A changing
electric field produces a magnetic
field”. A changing magnetic field
is therefore produced around the
vibrating charge. In turn, this
changing magnetic field produces
an electric field.
 Do you remember Faraday’s
Law? The cycle goes on. The
changing magnetic and electric
fields are perpendicular to each
other and to their direction of
propagation. Therefore, they are
seen as transverse waves.
 About 150 years ago, James
Clerk Maxwell theorized that this
mutual generation and propagation of
electric field and magnetic field can
be conceived as a form of moving
energy carried by what he called as
electromagnetic wave. So, if this is
just like any wave, does it mean that
it travels through a medium?
 No. Electromagnetic wave traverses
empty space! However, Maxwell did not
believe that electromagnetic wave
propagates in space under any condition. He
supposed that it must move at a certain
speed. He calculated the speed of the wave
based on Faraday’s theoretical assumptions
and experiments and concluded that the
speed is 3.0 x 108 m/s and denoted as c – the
same as the speed of light!
 He therefore proposed that light
is a form of electromagnetic wave.
Unfortunately, at that time, no
experiment was done to verify his
accounts. But after Faraday’s death,
Heinrich Hertz designed an
experimental set-up that enabled him
to generate and detect
electromagnetic waves.
 Formulation of EM Wave
Theory
The following prominent scientists each made a
significant contribution in resolving how electromagnetic
waves behave.
James Clerk Maxwell (1876), an English scientist
who developed a scientific theory to better explain
electromagnetic waves. When Maxwell used this field theory
to assume that light was an electromagnetic wave, and then
correctly deduced the finite velocity of light, it was a
powerful logical argument for the existence of the
electromagnetic force field.
 He noticed that electrical
fields and magnetic fields can
couple together to form
electromagnetic waves. Maxwell
discovered that a changing
magnetic field will induce a
changing electric field and vice
versa.
 Heinrich Hertz, a German physicist who
applied Maxwell’s theories to the production and
reception of radio waves. The unit of frequency of
a radio wave - one cycle per second - is named the
hertz, in honor of Heinrich Hertz. He proved the
existence of radio waves in the late 1880s. He
used two rods that served as a receiver and a
spark gap as the receiving antennae. Where the
waves were picked up, a corresponding spark
would jump. Hertz showed in his experiments that
these signals possessed all of the properties of
electromagnetic waves.
 Michael Faraday (1791-1867) is
probably best known for his discovery of
electromagnetic induction. His contributions
to electrical engineering and electrochemistry
or due to the fact that he was responsible for
introducing the concept of field in physics to
describe electromagnetic interaction are
enough for him to be highly recognized. But
perhaps, it is not so well known that he had
also made fundamental contributions to the
electromagnetic theory of light.
 André-Marie Ampère made the
revolutionary discovery that a wire
carrying electric current can attract or
repel another wire next to it that’s also
carrying electric current. The attraction is
magnetic, but no magnets are necessary
for the effect to be seen. He went on to
formulate Ampere’s Law of
Electromagnetism and produced the best
definition of electric current during his
 Hans Christian Oersted, a Danish
physicist and chemist who discovered
that the electric current in a wire can
deflect a magnetized compass needle, a
phenomenon the importance of which
was rapidly recognized and which
inspired the development of
electromagnetic theory.
 The Basic Principles of EM
Wave Theory
After years of rigorous studies and
experiments, the following principles came about
to explain the Electromagnetic Wave Theory.
1. Many natural phenomena exhibit wave-like
behaviors. All of them – water waves, earthquake
waves, and sound waves require a medium to
propagate. These are examples of mechanical
waves.
2. Light can also be described as a wave – a wave
of changing electric and magnetic fields that
propagate outward from their sources. These
waves, however, do not require a medium to
propagate.
3. They propagate at 300,000,000 meters per
second through a vacuum.
4. Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves. In
simpler terms, the changing electric and magnetic
fields oscillate perpendicular to each other and to
the direction of the propagating waves.
 These changing electric and magnetic
fields generate each other through Faraday’s
Law of Induction and Ampere’s Law of
Electromagnetism. These changing fields
dissociate from the oscillating charge and
propagate out into space at the speed of
light.
5. When the oscillating charge accelerates,
the moving charge’s electric fields change,
too.
 EM WAVES:
FREQUENCIES &
WAVELENGTH
 In this lesson, you will learn
about the characteristics of EM
waves. You will also find here their
physical wave features: frequency
and wavelength. Moreover, this lesson
enables you to gain more information
on how the different types of EM
waves are arranged according to its
wavelength and frequency.
 Now that you have acquired a deeper
understanding on what electromagnetic
waves are, you might be wondering how
sunlight is different from X-rays if both are
electromagnetic waves that travel at the
same speed. Electromagnetic waves, like all
types of waves, are described by their
physical wave features: amplitude,
wavelength, and frequency. These are the
characteristics that can vary and thereby
produce many different kinds of
 An electromagnetic wave is
arranged according to its wavelength
and frequency. The term frequency
describes how many waves per
second a wavelength produces. On
the other hand, the wavelength
measures the length of an individual
wave in meters.
 EM Waves: Frequencies and
Wavelengths
The electromagnetic waves (EM) are often
arranged in the order of wavelength and frequency in
what is known as the electromagnetic spectrum. Because
all EM waves travel at the same speed, if the frequency
of a wave changes, then the wavelength must change as
well. Waves with the longest wavelengths have the
lowest frequencies while the waves with the shortest
wavelengths have the highest frequencies. The amount
of energy carried by an electromagnetic wave increases
with its frequency.
 Arranged according to
increasing frequency, the EM
spectrum displays the following
waves: radio waves, microwaves,
infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X
rays, and gamma rays at the high-
frequency (short wavelength) end. It
is important to note that these waves
do not have an exact dividing region.
 Since all EM waves travel at the speed
of light, then the spectrum of wavelengths is
exactly opposite to the spectrum of
frequencies. In other words, wavelength and
frequency are inversely proportional to each
other. As frequencies increase on the EM
spectrum, wavelengths decrease. So, that
means radio waves have the longest
wavelengths and gamma rays have the
shortest.
 The different types of electromagnetic waves
are defined by the amount of energy carried by
their photons. Photons are bundles of wave energy.
From among the EM waves, gamma rays carry
photons of high energies while radio waves own
photons with the lowest energies. With regard to
the wavelength properties, radio waves can be
likened to the size of a football field while gamma
rays are as small as the nuclei of an atom. Gamma
rays, X-rays, and high ultraviolet are classified as
ionizing radiation as their photons have enough
energy to ionize atoms, causing chemical reactions.
 All electromagnetic waves can travel
through a medium but unlike other types
of waves, they can also travel in a
vacuum or empty space. They travel in a
vacuum at the speed of 3x108 m/s and
denoted as c, the speed of light. The
wave speed, frequency and wavelength
are related as shown in the following
equation:
v = λf
 where v is the wave
speed, expressed in meters
per second, the frequency f
is expressed in Hertz and
the wavelength λ is
expressed in meters.
QUIZ
DIRECTION:
Choose the letter of
the best answer.
1. What is the speed of the
electromagnetic wave in a
vacuum?
A. Zero
B. Always the same as the speed of
light
C. Changing depending on the value of
its wavelength
D. None of the above
2. How are electromagnetic
waves produced?
A. Any disturbance
B. Currents
C. Vibrating charge
D. Voltage source
3. What happens to the frequency of the
electromagnetic wave if its wavelength
increases?

A. It decreases.
B. It increases as well.
C. It remains the same.
D. None of the above.
4. In the electromagnetic wave,
what is the direction of the
propagation of the wave?
A. Always to the right
B. Cannot be determined
C. Parallel to electric and magnetic
field directions
D. Perpendicular to the electric and
magnetic field directions
5. Which of the following forms of
electromagnetic waves has the widest
frequency range?

A. X-ray
B. Microwave
C. Ultraviolet
D. Radio waves
6. Who contributed in developing
equations that showed the relationship
of electricity and magnetism?

A. André-Marie Ampere
B. Heinrich Hertz
C. James Clerk Maxwell
D. Michael Faraday
7. Who showed experimental evidence
of electromagnetic waves and their link
to light?

A. André-Marie Ampere
B. Heinrich Hertz
C. James Clerk Maxwell
D. Michael Faraday
8. Which type of wave has the
shortest wavelength?
A. Gamma ray
B. Microwave
C. Ultraviolet
D. X-ray
9. What is the other term for
electromagnetic waves?
A. Electric waves
B. Longitudinal waves
C. Mechanical waves
D. Transverse waves
10. Which of the following correctly lists
electromagnetic waves in the order from the
longest to the shortest wavelength?

A. Gamma rays, ultraviolet, infrared,

microwaves
B. Microwaves, ultraviolet, visible light, gamma
rays
C. Radio waves, infrared, gamma rays,
ultraviolet
D. Radio waves, infrared, visible light, X-rays
11. How is the wavelength of
infrared differs from the wavelength
of ultraviolet waves?

A. Longer
B. Shorter
C. The same
D. None of the above
12. All EM waves have the
same speed.

A. True
B. False
13. What is the main difference
between a radio wave and a light
wave?

A. Speed
B. Wavelength
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above
NOT an electromagnetic
wave?
A. Infrared
B. Light
C. Sound
D. Radio
15. What is the frequency
range of UV radiation?
A. 3.5x109 – 3x1011 Hz
B. 3.5x1011 – 4x1014 Hz
C. 7.5x1014 – 3x1016 Hz
D. 7.5x1016 – 3x1019 Hz