Around 1820, a Danish physicist called Hans Christian Oersted (17771851) showed that

an electric wire can create a pattern of magnetism. Decade later, English chemist Michael
Faraday (17911867) proved that the opposite could happen too. He proved we can

use

magnetism to generate electricity and that give him to develop the electric motor and electricity
generator that now we use in our world.
Another great scientist, James Clerk Maxwell (18311879) was able to come up with a
wonderful single theory that explained both electricity and magnetism. Maxwell summed up
everything people had discovered in four simple equations to produce a superb theory of
electromagnetism, which he published in 1873. He realized that electromagnetism could travel in
the form of waves, at the speed of light, and concluded that light itself had to be a kind of
electromagnetic wave. About a decade after Maxwell's death, a brilliant German physicist named
Heinrich Hertz (18571894) became the first person to produce electromagnetic waves in a
laboratory. That piece of work led to the development of radio, television, and much more
recently, things like wireless Internet.
Electromagnetic waves are waves that produced by the simultaneous vibration and
oscillation of electric or magnetic field. They transfer energy from one place to another and they
can travel through a vacuum. All electromagnetic waves are invisible. However, the only
electromagnetic waves we can see is the visible light waves. Electric and magnetic fields in
electromagnetic waves oscillates at right angles to each other and to the direction of travel. It is a
transverse waves and travel at the speed of light (3

) in vacuum. Electromagnetic

waves posses waves properties like reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference. It carries
no charge (neutral). Wave equation (

is applicable. The full range of electromagnetic

waves, arranged orderly in their wavelengths and frequencies is called the electromagnetic
spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum ranges from gamma rays (with the shortest wavelength)
to radio waves (with the longest wavelength).

Diagram 1

The shortest wave length is Gamma rays with

meters. It is a size of atomic nuclei

and cannot penetrates earth atmosphere. It has a frequency of

Gamma rays mostly uses

for kill cancer cells, sterilizes medical equipments and foods. Next, X-rays which has wavelength
of

meters and frequency of

It also cannot penetrates earth atmosphere. It uses in

X-ray photography, detects cracked pipe, causes cancer but can kill cancer cells too. Ultraviolet
has wavelength of

meters and frequency of

It also cannot penetrates earth

atmosphere and relatively the size of molecules. Ultraviolet helpful in killing bacteria for
sterilization and causes fluorescence. Moreover, Visible light is a common. Visible light has
wavelength of

meters and frequency of

It can penetrates earth atmosphere

and relatively the size of protozoan. Visible light very helpful in photosynthesis of plants and of
course for visibility. Furthermore, infrared has wavelength of

meters and frequency of

It mainly cannot penetrates earth atmosphere and relatively the size of pinpoint.
Infrared useful in remote controllers, cameras, security alarms and etc. Besides that, microwave
has wavelength of

meters and frequency of

It mainly cannot penetrates earth

atmosphere and relatively the size of honeybee. Microwaves is fall under Radio waves. Lastly, is
Radio waves. Radio waves has variety of types such as long wave uses in long-distance AM
radio, medium wave uses in local AM radio, short wave in amateur radio, VHF in FM radio,
UHF in TV broadcasts and mobile phones, and microwaves which uses in communication
satellites, radar and microwave ovens.

The four electromagnetic waves which is I come in contact daily life in Malaysia is X-Rays,
Visible light, Infrared and Radio waves
X -RAYS
Though they are much higher in frequency than visible light, with wavelengths about
1,000 times shorter than for ordinary light rays. X- rays are a familiar part of current modern life
due to their uses in medicine. German scientist Wilhelm Rontgen (1845-1923) developed the first
x-ray device in 1895, and, thus, the science of using x-ray machines is called roentgenology.
The new invention became a curiosity, with carnivals offering patrons an opportunity to
look at the insides of their hands. And just as many people today scared the opportunities for
invasion of privacy offered by computer technology, many at the time worried that x- rays would
allow robbers to look into people's houses. Soon, however, it became clear that the most
important application of x- rays lay in medicine.
HOW A MEDICAL X-RAY MACHINE WORKS.
Due to their very short wavelengths, x rays can pass through substances of low density.
For example, fat and other forms of soft tissue without their movement being disturbed. But in
materials of higher density, such as bone, atoms are packed closely together, and this gives x-rays
with less space through which to travel. As a result, x-ray images show dark areas where the rays
traveled completely through the target, and light images of dense materials that blocked the
movement of the rays.
Medical x-ray machines are typically referred to either as "hard" or "soft." Soft x- rays are the
ones with which most people are more familiar. Operating at a relatively at low frequency, these

are used to photograph bones and internal organs, and provided the patient does not receive
prolonged exposure to the rays, they cause little damage. Hard x- rays, on the other hand, are
designed precisely to cause damage. Not to the patient, but to cancer cells. Because they use high
voltage and high-frequency rays. Hard x- rays can be quite dangerous to the patient as well if not
handled with proper procedure.

OTHER APPLICATIONS.
X-ray crystallography, developed in the early twentieth century, is devoted to the study of the
interference patterns produced by x- rays passing through materials that are crystalline in
structure. Each of these discoveries, in turn, transformed daily life: insulin, by offering hope to
diabetics, penicillin, by providing a treatment for a number of previously fatal illnesses, and
DNA, by enabling scientists to make complex assessments of genetic information.
In addition to the medical applications, x-ray machines has the scanning capabilities to make
them useful for security. A healthy person receives an x- ray at a doctor's office only once in a
while; but everyone who carries items past a certain point in a major airport must submit to x-ray
security scanning for security purposes. If one is carrying a purse or briefcase, for an example,
this is placed on a moving belt and subjected to scanning by a low-power device that can reveal
the contents. This is to avoid any harmful substance that causes danger or any terrorist attack.
In Malaysia, X-rays are widely used in hospital for patients disease related purposes. Besides
that it also uses by University and Colleges for new student administration purposes. I dont
think it is not relevant at all. By this, the whole population is exposed to X-rays at least once in a
life time. For education purposes, a student does not require a X-rays report, they can use other
medical checkups. By exposing to X-rays a body will destroy millions of healthy cells and
tendency developing cancerous cells is relatively high too.

Diagram 2
Visible Light
Visible light waves are the only electromagnetic waves we can see. Visible light has

wavelength of

meters and frequency of

It can penetrates earth atmosphere

and relatively the size of protozoan. We see these waves as the colors of the rainbow. Each color
has a different wavelength and frequency. Red has the longest wavelength and violet has the
shortest wavelength. When all the waves are seen together, they make a whole white light.
When white light shines through a prism, the white light is broken apart into the colors of the
visible light spectrum. Water vapor in the atmosphere can also break apart wavelengths creating
a rainbow.

Diagram 2

Cones in our eyes are receivers for these tiny visible light waves. Then, we can see a
spectrum of colors when we see. This can differentiate things one another. The Sun is a natural
source for visible light waves and our eyes see the reflection of this sunlight off the objects
around us. The color of an object that we see is the color of light reflected. All other colors are
absorbed. Light bulbs are another source of visible light waves.
Visible light is very useful for visibility. We can see objects and walk on our own. We
can sense the environment. We can do all sort of activities such as climbing, walking, running,
jumping, traveling and much more.
Malaysia is a wonderful country setting in tropical arena. We have a lot of different and
unique plantation in the world. The important process of the plant is photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis absorbs carbon dioxide and water. Then with a help of sunlight (visible light), the
plant produce starch and by-product oxygen. Oxygen is a basic need of animal and human.
Without oxygen, we will die. For human to breath and stay healthy visible light playing an
important role in our daily life. To get oxygen continuously, we need plant(chlorophyll). In
Malaysia, we are moving towards Wawasan 2020, to a developed nation. In order to achieve
that we need development in everything. One of the development is making town. For that we
need land. So authorities widely doing deforestation for property development by ignoring the
importance of that trees.
Deforestation need to be control. Otherwise we will loose our natural beauty nation for at
all. Government need to address this issue seriously and punish illegal activities on deforestation.
Open burning also causes invisibility. Every year, forest area being fired up for business
purposes. Moreover, in Indonesia is relatively large facto on this causing haze during summer
season and making a lot of trouble to neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia. This
open burning and forest fire need to be stop and find other alternative method.

Diagram 3

Infrared

Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Infrared light has a range of wavelengths, just like visible light has wavelengths that
range from red light to violet. "Near infrared" light is closest in wavelength to visible light and
"far infrared" is closer to the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The longer, far
infrared wavelengths are about the size of a pin head and the shorter, near infrared ones are the
size of cells, or are microscopic.
Far infrared waves are thermal. Heat is the infrared radiation, we experience every day
which is a thermal wave . The heat that we feel from sunlight, a fire or light, a radiator or a warm
sidewalk is infrared. Our skin has the temperature-sensitive nerve endings

can detect the

difference between inside body temperature and outside skin temperature. Shorter, near infrared
waves are not hot at all. Even we cannot feel or sense them. These shorter wavelengths are the
ones used by our TV's remote control.
IR data transmission is also employed in short-range communication among computer
peripherals and personal digital assistants. These devices usually conform to standards published
by IrDA, the Infrared Data Association. Remote controls and IrDA devices use infrared lightemitting diodes (LEDs) to emit or signal infrared radiation that is centric by a plastic lens into a
narrow beam. The beam is modulated, i.e. switched on and off, to encode the data. The receiver
8

uses a silicon photodiode to convert the infrared radiation to an electric current. It responds only
to the rapidly pulsing signal created by the transmitter, and filters out slowly changing infrared
radiation from ambient light. Infrared communications are useful for indoor use in areas of high
population density. IR does not penetrate walls and so does not interfere with other devices in
adjoining rooms. Infrared is the most common way for remote controls to command appliances.
Infrared remote control protocols like RC-5, SIRC, are used to communicate with infrared.
Free space optical communication using infrared lasers can be a relatively inexpensive way to
install a communications link in an urban area operating at up to 4 gigabit/s, compared to the cost
of burying fiber optic cable.
Infrared lasers are used to provide the light for optical fiber communications systems. Infrared
light with a wavelength around 1,330 nm (least dispersion) or 1,550 nm (best transmission) are
the best choices for standard silica fibers.
We can see the application of optical fiber usage in Malaysias telecommunication
industry where Telcos like Maxis bringing optical fiber to boost their internet market industry.
This is followed by TM Unifi, P1 Wimax and many other Telco players too. And, we use remote
control for almost many electric appliances such as television, air-conditioner, micro wave oven
and many more. In this case, electromagnetic wave is helping a lot in solving our daily problem
by using less human energy.

Diagram 4

Radio Waves

Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the electromagnetic
spectrum longer than infrared light. Radio waves have frequencies from 300 GHz to as low as
3 kHz, and corresponding wavelengths ranging from 1 millimeter to 100 kilometers. As other
electromagnetic waves, they travel at the speed of light. Naturally occurring radio waves are
made by lightning, or by astronomical objects. Artificially generated radio waves are used for
fixed and mobile radio communication, broadcasting, radar and other navigation systems,
communications satellites, computer networks and innumerable other applications. Different
frequencies of radio waves have different propagation characteristics in the Earth's atmosphere;
long waves may cover a part of the Earth very consistently, shorter waves can reflect off the
ionosphere and travel around the world, and much shorter wavelengths bend or reflect very little
and travel on a line of sight.
To prevent interference between different users, the artificial generation and use of radio waves
is strictly regulated by law, coordinated by an international body called the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU). The radio spectrum is divided into a number of radio bands
on the basis of frequency, allocated to different uses.
The study of electromagnetic phenomena such as reflection, refraction, polarization,
diffraction, and absorption is of critical importance in the study of how radio waves move in free
space and over the surface of the Earth. Different frequencies experience different combinations
10

of these phenomena in the Earth's atmosphere, making certain radio bands more useful for
specific purposes than others.
In order to receive radio signals, for instance from AM/FM radio stations, a radio antenna
must be used. However, since the antenna will pick up thousands of radio signals at one time, a
radio tuner is necessary to tune in a particular signal. This is typically done via a resonator. The
resonator is configured to resonate at a particular frequency, allowing the tuner to amplify sine
waves at that radio frequency and eliminate other sine waves. Always, either the inductor or the
capacitor of the resonator is adjustable, allowing the user to change the frequency at which it
resonates.
Radio frequency (RF) energy has been used in medical treatments for over 75 years
generally for minimally nosy surgeries and coagulation, including the treatment of sleep apnea.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio frequency waves to generate images of the
internal human body.
Extremely low frequency RF with electric field levels in the low kV/m range are known
to induce sensitive currents within human body that create an annoying tingling sensation. These
currents will typically flow to ground through a contact surface such as the feet, or arc to ground
where the body is well insulated.
As early in 1920s, Malaysia entertainment industry wholly depends in Radio. Those
cannot go to bars and other social area, listen to songs from radio. It is such a pleasant and
enjoyable listening to radio those day my mother and grandmother told me once. Nowadays, we
still listen to radio. Youths they like to listen songs using headset. This activity need to avoid for
certain reason. We are bringing an electromagnetic waves inside our ears which may have a lot
of medical complication later as we grow older. This we need to avoid.

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Diagram 5

Conclusion
Now, technology has developed tremendously. We can see the application of
electromagnetic waves in our daily life. We cant escape from it. We need to a lot of awareness
on the implication of electromagnetic waves such as gamma rays, infra red, X-rays, microwave
and others. After getting knowledge which appliances using which electromagnetic wave we can
analyze the effect and make a way to minimize the usage of it.
For an example, taking X-ray. X-rays only to take when is necessary. Private hospital
usually love to hike up the patients bill, so they will take a lot of procedure include X-rays. Take
advice from doctor, console with him whether it is really necessary to take x-ray or can follow
other method without it. Once we take x-ray millions of healthy cells will destroy.
Next, we have to plant plants in our house. It can bring our mind in control and make us
relax. It will avoid electromagnetic waves from coming contact with us. Eating vegetables also
will minimize the effect of electromagnetic waves. Going out in sun is good because it gives
Vitamin D to our skin. But too much expose to sun also causes skin cancer. To avoid that use sun
protection cream such as SPF14 to avoid such a diseases.
By following all these, we can minimize our body exposure to negative effects of
electromagnetic wave significantly.

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Reference
1. Text book Form 5 Physics : Chapter 1 Waves
2. Text book Form 5 Science : Chapter 8 Electronics and Information and Communication
(ICT)
3. Reference Memory Mastery through Visual Maps & Diagram Physics and Science SPM
4. Branley, Franklyn Mansfoeld. The Electromagnetic Spectrum : Key to the Universe.
Illustrated by Leonard D.Dank.New York: Crowell,1979
5. Electromagnetic Spectrum/NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(website) http://imagine.gscf.nasa.gov/docs/science/know11/emspectrum.html
6. http://www.ehow.com/info_8466817_types-physics-everyday-life.htm

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