RADIOWAVES AND

MICROWAVES

GROUP 1
* In order to understand the radio waves or any other type of
electromagnetic waves, one must first understand the concept of
electromagnetic waves itself. Electromagnetic waves, more commonly
known as EM waves, were first proposed by James Clerk Maxwell. This
was later confirmed by Heinrich Hertz who successfully produced the
first EM wave.

*Electromagnetic waves have both an electric field and a magnetic

field oscillating perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the
direction of wave propagation. All electromagnetic waves have the
same velocity in vacuum. The frequency of the electromagnetic wave
decides the energy stored in it.

2
All electromagnetic waves can travel through a medium,
but unlike any other types of waves, they can also travel in
a vacuum. They travel at a speed of 3X10^8 m/s and
denoted as c, the speed of light. The wave speed,
frequency, and wavelength are related by the ff. equation:
V=λf
Where v is the wave speed, or c (speed of light in m/s), the
frequency (f) is expressed in Hertz and the wavelength λ in
meters.

3
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
* A continuum of EM waves arranged according to frequency and
wavelength. A gradual progression from the waves of lowest to the
waves of higher frequencies. The EM spectrum includes: radiowaves,
microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.
These waves do not have exact dividing region.
* Different types of EM waves are defined by the amount of energy
carried by the photons. The energy of a photon is given by the equation:
E=hf
Where h is Planck’s constant and f is the frequency of the EM wave.
Planck’s Constant value is 6.63 x 10^-34 joules per second

👉 Photons- bundles of wave energy

👉 Gamma rays have protons of high energies and in regards to
wavelength they are as small as the nuclei of the atom.
👉 Radio waves have protons of the lowest energies and in
wavelengths they can be likened to size of a football field.

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RADIOWAVES AND MICROWAVES
Radio waves and microwaves are two types of
electromagnetic waves with relatively long
wavelengths. Radio waves are mostly used in the
communication field whereas microwaves are used in
industries and astronomy. The applications of radio
waves and microwaves are not limited to the above
mentioned fields.

👉 In this presentation, we are gonna discuss the

definitions of radio waves and microwaves and their
applications.
 RADIO WAVES
 Radio waves have the longest wavelength in the EM
spectrum. They are produced by making electrons vibrate in
an antenna. They are used to transmit sound and picture
information over long distances. Radio waves are the
electromagnetic waves that lie in the region of 300 GHz to 3
kHz. Radio waves are widely used as envelope signals on radio
communication and wavelength channel to observe
astronomical objects.

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 MICROWAVES
 Microwaves are a type of radio waves with short
frequencies and smaller wavelengths. It can be classified
as a subclass of radio waves. The frequency of
microwaves lies in the 300GHz to 300MHz. Microwaves are
widely used in microwave ovens as the resonant
frequency of water molecules lies in the microwave
region. Microwaves can penetrate the atmosphere of the
earth and are also used in RADARs, astronomy, navigation
and spectroscopy.
 MICROWAVES
Microwaves are sometimes considered to be very short radio waves (highfrequency and
high-energy radio waves).
Some important properties of microwaves are:
• They are reflected by metal surfaces.
• They heat materials if they can make atoms or molecules in the material vibrate. The
amount of heating depends on the intensity of the microwave radiation, and the time
that the material is exposed to the radiation.
• They pass through glass and plastics.
• They pass through the atmosphere.
• They pass through the ionosphere without being reflected.
• They are absorbed by water molecules, how well depends on the frequency (energy) of
the microwaves.
• Transmission is affected by wave effects such as reflection, refraction, diffraction and
interference.
THANK YOU