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Year 11 - Science

Non-ionising electromagnetic radiation

Electromagnetic waves

Unit Summary

This unit explores reflection, refraction, and lenses using ray diagrams. It covers the electromagnetic spectrum, light as a wave, absorption, transmission, and practical uses. Emphasis is on risks, temperature balance, data presentation, and unit conversions.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the properties, uses and dangers of non–ionising electromagnetic radiation.

Key Notes

  • Radio waves, microwaves, IR and visible light are non–ionising EM radiation. They can harm cells by heating.
  • Radio waves and microwaves are used for long distance communication, broadcasting and data transmission.
  • Microwaves are absorbed by water, so can be used to cook food from within. IR radiation cooks the surface of food.
  • IR is used for heating and thermal imaging. Visible light and IR are used for data transmission in optical fibres.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • frequency: The frequency of a wave means the number of oscillations occurring per second, which is the same as the number of waves arriving per second.
  • non-ionising: Radio waves, microwaves, infrared and visible light are non–ionising electromagnetic waves, as they cannot remove electrons from atoms.
  • heating: Any process that transfers energy because of a temperature difference, or causes a temperature rise, can be called heating.
  • antenna: An antenna is a metal structure designed to emit or absorb electromagnetic waves.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The majority of pupils struggle to differentiate between ionising and non–ionising radiation.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

Radio waves, microwaves, IR and visible light are non–ionising EM radiation. They can harm cells by heating. Radio waves and microwaves are used for long distance communication, broadcasting and data transmission.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'frequency'

The frequency of a wave means the number of oscillations occurring per second, which is the same as the number of waves arriving per second. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: The majority of pupils struggle to differentiate between ionising and non–ionising radiation. Correction: Explicitly teach that non–ionising radiation is not able to force electrons off atoms – it cannot turn atoms into ions. What it may be able to do is cause heating by increasing the movement of particles and therefore temperature of the substance.

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